A note from Serade Black: Another chapter is out for your reading pleasures. If some of you are impatient and want this story pushed along to get to the "good parts" then perhaps, this is not your story. I love the comments I'm getting, but I'm also getting messages that are wanting me to "hurry, it along!". Now, as much as I love comments, suggestions and grins requests (thank you, btw!) I believe STRONGLY is well thought out stories and not some "just shag her already" stories. Those seem to fizzle out rather quickly and have no meaning or purpose, thus not truly contributing to the Hermione/Sirius ship itself. If you want to do the PWP stories, fine...that's your bag.

I have every intention of finishing (and starting another that I'll finish) this story, so sit back and relax and review like crazy so I can fuel up faster for the next chapter. Thanks so much for all your good wishes and help. RJ Lupin's Kat - get to writing!

SB

ps. See you at Phoenix Rising!

Chapter 9

"A Taste of What's to Come"

The Crobar on Manette Street in Soho was just the proper fitting for the foursome to get a pint and not be noticed too much by the wizarding community. The hour was still mildly early for regulars to have a drink, so there was just one thing that Sirius wanted to do, now that he was a free man.

The Tower Bridge was an icon in London and he remembered walking across it when times got tough with his family. It was there, in a very touristy spot in the city that he thought out his problems as his eyes befell upon such a historical piece.

As a boy, his brother and cousins used to take their brooms and fly to the top to watch muggle London unfold before them. It was such a deathly height to fly on a youth broom, but Bellatrix and Narcissa always pushed him beyond his limits. A trait that he wasn't always proud of, since it later became a battle of who was better at what, which was always a dispute between him and his brother.

Remus slowed down behind Sirius, knowing that it was necessary for him to have some time to himself as he took this memory stroll. His first real steps of freedom into adulthood needed to be solo ones and though Harry wanted to stay close behind him, Hermione, who was still not talking, took Harry's arm and held him back with Remus.

Sirius walked ahead, oblivious to the distance he had behind him from his friends, taking in the smells, the sounds, and the energy of this momentous place. Bustling cars passed him as he walked along the sidewalk, honking their horns in ignorance. He glided a hand over the thick railing that was worn with age and the elements of nature. When he crossed over the center, he couldn't help but look up and imagine his brother taking his first flight to the top of the bridge, knowing full well that Regulus was frightened of heights. It was then, and only then, did he side with Bellatrix and coax him into taking the tall flight or else he'd pay the humiliating price when they got back to school. His younger brother, a baby compared to Bellatrix, had asked him what was up there and would Sirius catch him if he fell. Sirius shook his head like Narcissa, and smiled that charming smile that usually was enough to say anything.

The chilling air hit his face as he neared the other side of the bridge and when he took the last steps off, he turned around to embrace his friends. About twenty feet behind, he smiled at Remus, thanking him for the moments alone.

"All right, let's get a pint!" He announced.

He opened his arms wide, signifying that he was ready to get his day on, and turned in the direction of the first muggle pub he'd ever been into.

Right after the noon hour, they settled at the pub at a table in the back. The poor lighting kept them somewhat incognito in case anyone from the wizarding world just happened to recognize a known-to-be-dead wizard sitting amongst them.

As they took their seats, Hermione followed her instructions and handed Remus the Ministry credit card so he could start a tab. She put up no fight in passing it over, while not making any sound as she closed up her purse and set it on the floor under her feet. Harry excused himself to the loo, leaving her and Sirius alone at the table.

Pretending that she was sitting completely unaccompanied, she folded her hands on top the table and straightened her back stiffly as she looked everywhere around the pub, but at Sirius. She put up the fake façade that she was indifferent to the goings on and sighed impatiently, feigning her anger. Her lips buttoned firm, not saying a word or showing any other kind of emotion other than displease, but her exterior was quickly breaking down with the short little witty comments, her only company kept sending her way.

Finally, as Harry was completely out of sight and Remus was occupied with the bartender, he leaned in and stared directly at her. His eyes were narrowed, his lips pursed and he concentrated on her like a convoluted puzzle.

"I know you can't stay mad at me forever," he baited.

She rolled her eyes and said, "Watch me."

Sirius lifted a swift hand from the table and pointed at her, as in catching her tongue, "Gotcha! I got you to talk to me!"

"I wouldn't say that was talking, it was more of a guarantee," she pouted.

She exuded disinterest as she leaned back in her chair while watching a funny looking man coming in the door, wearing a fedora.

Sirius glanced over towards Remus who was still leaning against the bar, waiting to be served. Another look towards the bathrooms and he still had a few minutes alone with her. He leaned in again, this time taking her hands into his. She shifted nervously in her seat, looking around to see if anyone noticed and then returned her eyes to his. His look was serious, intense even, and she knew that whatever he had to say should only have been said while they were alone.

"I know I can get you to talk to me. I'd hate it if I never heard your voice or saw you smile at me, again. Do me this special favor and humor me for one night by pretending that I have the ability to woo you, just like all the others."

Hermione felt her heart stop in mid thump as his thumbs caressed the tops of her hands. His dark eyes captivated her with a silent hypnosis and she felt the overpowering urge to lean in close enough and just swiftly taste that perfect mouth that tempted her like a rosy red fruit.

Her nerves were about to get the best of her, so she tried to rationalize the intense situation with a head tilt of curiosity. His body was turned into hers like a couple having an illicit affair and she was careful to keep the distance between them.

Daringly, she whispered, "But, I'm not like all the others."

His mouth curved coolly, knowing that he'd said just enough to intrigue her and reel her into his interest. Her eyes gave her away as she tried to hide behind a calm exterior. A few glimpses down at their hands indicated that she was very much aware of their touch and he only added more fuel to the fire by squeezing her soft hands oh so softly. Remus was just being served, so their time was limited.

"I know, that's what I like about you," he winked. He lifted a hand to his lips and kissed the spot where his thumb had touched. "I'm going to go and help Remus with the drinks," he finished.

Hermione was left in her thoughts as his lips touched her hand, creating that subtle burn that she secretly took pleasure in. Her eyes stared at the empty chair where Sirius sat, still stunned with his free comments.

Oh, no. What have I started?

Harry plopped down in the seat next to her, mentally splashing cold water down her back to awaken her from her fantasy. Could it be even that? Was Sirius flirting with her? Her? The bookworm? His own godson's best friend? Apparently so, and the game would continue as he returned to the table with cold Strongbow and a fierce grin on his face like a mischievous thief.

Her long time best friend raised his mug tall in the air and toasted the return of his long lost guardian. The group chanted back and chugged the massive brew, with Hermione delicately lifting a pinky finger into the air.

The early hours of night were approaching and the foursome had done several rounds of cider and several shots to follow. Hermione's Ministry credit card was well beyond its allotted limits, but Sirius assured her that if Robards was to mention anything about their frivolous spending, then she was sure to direct him his way.

They went to a safe area in London to travel home, a place that was well known in the wizarding world to apparate from. Then the two long time Marauders carried a very drunk and incoherent Harry between them, using a hidden levitation spell they masked from a pointed wand from underneath Hermione's coat.

Once inside number 12 Grimmauld Place, Remus continued on up the stairs, carefully guiding Harry along like a gliding angel. The same spell was used recently, when it was used to move Sirius up the stairs when he first returned home on that rainy night.

Before extinguishing a few lamps in the living room, Hermione shrugged off her coat and tossed it over the arm of a nearby chair as she walked towards the kitchen to prepare a late night cup of tea.

Glancing over at Sirius, who was just untying his scarf from around his neck, she sweetly asked, "Care for a cup of tea?"

Her voice was so pleasant and soothing after hearing pub songs drained in ale all night, it was impossible for him to say no. As if she just offered him absolute happiness with a single cup of tea, he nodded and followed her to the kitchen.

Her steps were quiet, just by habit, since she had come into the kitchen countless times late at night, alone, careful not to disturb anyone. Sirius, on the other hand, stomped down the stairs like an elephant out of his own habit. The thundering noise made Hermione spin around on him in mid stair to try and hush him. Giving her a look, as if asking why, she casually signaled to the sleeping boy upstairs.

"He's so out of touch right now, love, that if the Hogwarts Express hit this house, he'd still not wake up," Sirius sarcastically explained.

Shaking her head that he was probably right, she turned her business back to making tea and started to fill the kettle with water. Placing it back on its burner, she tapped her wand lightly against the tin container and called for Sirius to fetch three tea bags from the pantry.

He leaned off the counter to make himself useful to her request and kneeled down before the age old cupboard, ironically hidden under the stairs.

"Where, Hermione? The one with the birds over the packaging?" he called over, leaning back to throw his voice at her without yelling and waking up the boy.

"Goodness, no," she replied, making her way over next to him. She quickly scanned the shelves and found the right one, "If we drank that one," she started when he slowly slithered back up the length of her. Her words seemed to slow with every snail-like movement he made as he straightened, looking down the few inches of height he held over her. She hadn't realized how close she had stepped to him; he was nearly pressing against her. He gazed at her, waiting for her to finish. "...we'd be up all night," she managed to breathe.

The shadows kept them hidden from spying eyes, should anyone discover them. Their solace was found by the pantry, just under the stairs, with the settling sounds of the house around them. She clutched the box of tea in her hands, holding it tight as if it were the only means of strength she had left before falling to his feet in a submissive subjection. The way he narrowed his dark eyes on her made her knees weak, like she was the only witch in the world that mattered to him. His finely trimmed shoulder length hair fell before his shoulders, creating a curtain alongside his perfectly chiseled jaw line that held pursed lips. His sunken cheekbones were a thing of the past and all that was bestowed before her was the radiating handsome bloodline of the Blacks

There was no doubt that this man was a wizard, for her mind was absolutely reeling from subliminal messages sent from his body language. She looked up at him hopeful, knowing that he wasn't peering down at her like a piece of meat, but just as a woman he wanted to know. Again, like the only witch in the world.

She felt her heart flutter again like a trapped canary and opened her mouth to speak, but was only able to let out a quiet sigh.

There was no doubt that he heard her, for the serene sound reminded him to blink. Though his stare was concrete, it was only the result of how much he was enthralled with her. He knew she was a bit apprehensive and he would have had to been blind to not notice she shared a hunger for the same thing he desired. However, it was also known how absolutely forbidden they were.

"Am I standing too close?" he whispered, hoping that she'd allow him to stay where he was.

"No," she took no time to answer. Could you get any closer?

"What do you want me to do, Hermione?" he tested.

"Kiss me," she answered, before she thought it through.

Thank God!

Finally, his wish was granted as he hesitated no longer than to feel a woman's lips pressed against his. It had been ages since he'd tasted the lingering tease of a woman's last breath that was just shy of hesitation. Her whispered voice was practically panting and he obeyed her request with minimal struggle.

The softness of each lip felt like the velvet touch of rose petals as they met him eagerly.

He cupped a hand around her neck with a familiarity that was decades old, and like riding a bike, you never forgot how to kiss a woman properly. His mild seduction forced her to drop the tea box she clutched so desperately, in order to allow her hands to snake around his neck to pull him in closer to her.

He hugged her slender frame, wrapping his other arm around her waist so that no space was permitted between them. His blood started to heat as the rushing energy flowed through his veins and into harbored animal lust, awakening his old self. Lips of the inhibited one welcomed him graciously, mentally communicating to him that she'd wanted him to kiss her like this for a long, long time. Years, perhaps? Sirius's conscience flickered over the idea of that line they shouldn't cross, but as she opened her lips just slightly, inviting him to invade her mouth like a lost lover, the line was a thing of the past.

As their embrace heated like two teenagers on the brink of being discovered by their parents, Hermione savored the feeling of his coarse chin scraping hers. It only added to the grittiness of their affections. Smoothing hands over each other's backs, hip bones meeting, and hair moving into the way of a tilted head was all so intoxicating. The sounds their lips made together seemed musical almost, and the slide of a tongue over a lip was enough to convince Sirius to take her right there on the wooden table they ate dinner on.

The ex-con slowly moved his traveling hands up to cradle her face before him like a treasured angel. His kisses slowed and drawn out, taking a moment to collect their thoughts before going in again for another soft touch and nip of a lip. Their feverish embrace began to slow to something tenderer, like finishing up the last taste of a well prepared dessert. To him, it had been just too long since he'd kissed a woman; he'd forgotten how much he truly enjoyed just the simplest acts of affection. Granted, in some cultures, this was by far the most intimate and as she sighed against him, it was a reminder that he was a free man. Free to do what he wanted, when he wanted, to whomever he wanted.

But, right now, these last few weeks, it had been this woman. He just couldn't seem to get enough of this young woman standing with him. This... Hermione Granger, Harry's friend.

He reluctantly pulled away from, as if he'd just realized what it was they were doing and guilt started to melt into him. His eyes opened wide, blinking to clear his mind, his mouth gaped open like a fish with no air. Still, he couldn't seem to pull his hands away from their soft depths of her long curls, lightly touching the back of her neck with his fingers.

With bated breath, he leaned his forehead against hers and whispered, "Do you want me to stop?"

Eternity seemed to pass their shared silent moment together, before she spoke, "No," she dropped her hands against his chest. "But, Remus will be down any minute," she finished.

A little afraid of herself to continue, Hermione slowly pushed away and his hands slid away from her as she walked out of his reach. She bent over to retrieve her forgotten tea box and forced herself to leave him standing there by the pantry. If she looked up at him, back into the dark abyss of his bewitching eyes, she probably would have stayed. She could feel his eyes all over her body, but forced herself to carry on with the business of the tea. After pouring the hot water into three cups, she heard his feet shuffle across the kitchen floor, cautiously approaching her from behind.

Before he reached his intended target, Remus startled him by coming into the kitchen, oblivious to the thick moment he'd almost walked in on.

"He's out. I nearly dropped him and he never even moved. I would have thought him to be dead, if I didn't see his chest rise and fall," Remus explained.

He pulled a chair out from the table, creating a wretched screeching as it scraped across the floor, tearing up the silence. Hermione carried the three cups to the table and set them down, averting her eyes from Sirius. Small talk was made between them as they sipped their tea and as the last sips finally came to her, Hermione announced that she was retiring to bed.

The heavy moment shared between she and Sirius might have been an irresponsible one and she felt it best to just go upstairs and sleep it off. Perhaps in the morning, it would be okay to discuss things, but for now, as she flashed Sirius a brief good night smile and patted Remus on the shoulder, she couldn't think straight.

With his keen peripheral vision, Sirius followed her as she left the room. He watched her carefully, studying her every move, looking for an inkling of something, anything that she might offer him. A wink, a subtle hand gesture, a hint of anything that permitted him to follow her up those stairs that minute and escort her to her bedroom.

The dangerous hunger that settled in him unsatisfied had to remain so. There would be nothing further that night, by the looks of it. She let the door quietly shut behind her, with Sirius accepting that their moment might have been a one shot deal. But, oh how it felt good to kiss her. The way her hair tickled his cheeks, the rush of the moment when she offered her lips as her only sacrifice, the feel of her body turning into his and yielding to his every desire –

"I'm going to bed, too. Good night, Sirius," Remus announced. He was already up and walking to the door. When his friend didn't respond, he chuckled under his breath. His friend appeared to be lost, deep in thought. "Oh, Sirius," he asked, finally catching his attention. Sirius looked up, as if he just remembered he wasn't alone in the room. "You might want to wipe off Hermione's lipstick from your chin, mate," Remus suggested, tapping his chin indicating the spot.

Guilty, Sirius immediately clapped his hand to his chin, hiding any kind of evidence that would deem him responsible for a horrifying crime. The line that they so carelessly crossed was about to lash back at them, reminding them of their prohibited actions. Silent, swallowing the lump in his throat, Sirius patiently waited for Remus to scold him. Instead, to his surprise, Remus just ducked his head and disappeared out the door, leaving Sirius alone in the kitchen with his thoughts.