A/N: Some Sirimione fluff ahead! Thank you for reading! Please review :)
Chapter 09: Duelling
September 5th 1977 (Monday)
The weekend after the party was over rather quickly and Hermione had studied in her dorms and in the library for the most of it. She'd gone over the conversation between Regulus and Snape in her head multiple times after Saturday. It seemed that Regulus had been indifferent to her words, so she wondered how was she going to proceed with him? Could there be a way to him through Sirius? She let out a frustrated huff as she thought about the raven-haired Marauder and his antics on last Friday.
Then there was Snape...what was she going to do with him? Both Regulus and Severus seemed not to follow Voldemort and his dogma eagerly, but only in appearance, or so they had said. So maybe they would be willing to hear her out...
Monday came with new classes and a new teacher. Hermione found herself in the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom with her dorm mates, the Marauders, some Slytherins, and most of the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs. It was a popular class, probably because there had been many rumours of the Dark Lord. Also, it was the place where they learned how to duel.
"Good morning, class," The Professor called from the front of the classroom. "I'm Professor Prewett and I am here to teach you the Defence Against the Dark Arts," he said as he leaned against his desk, eyeing his NEWT students with an excited look.
Hermione of course knew exactly who he was, as he had been a name on one of her lists she had gone through with Dumbledore. She studied her Professor carefully, noticing quite a few similarities between him and Molly Weasley, his sister. She smiled sadly at the thought of the mother figure Molly had been to her and eventually shrugged away her errant thoughts as Professor Prewett continued.
"As you are all seventh year NEWT students, you have practiced duelling already in your sixth year. I want to see at what level you are, since in your NEWT's, you are going to demonstrate your duelling skills during the practical part of the exam." He explained. "So, find a partner and some space on the floor, and wait for my sign to begin." He said simply, and as the students all stood up, he flicked his wand to clear the room of tables and chairs.
Hermione watched as her classmates paired with each other, as did the students from other houses, and in the end, all that was left were Hermione and Snape. Of course. She sighed and almost rolled her eyes to the likelihood of it happening but restrained herself and went to stand opposite to him near the bookshelves on the back wall of the classroom.
Hermione's fellow Gryffindors stared at the pair with alarmed looks.
Snape watched Hermione carefully, with an unreadable expression on his face, before he spoke, "I hope you are as adequate as you were in Potions."
Hermione pursed her lips at him but said nothing.
"Brilliant!" Professor Prewett said as everyone had taken their places in the room. "Now, try to keep your duels nonverbal and use only the basic hexes and jinxes. No banned or dark curses," Professor Prewett continued with a strict voice as he eyed the students.
"You may begin when you are ready. And remember the proper duelling etiquette." He said and the students started to bow to their opponents and take their duelling stances.
Hermione and Snape locked their eyes as they both bowed to one another. He watched her with a calculating look that made her slightly anxious. Hermione took in a calming breath and gripped her wand.
He cast the first spell, a nonverbal tickling charm, and she blocked it swiftly. Hermione replied quickly with a Knockback Jinx, which he blocked smoothly with a wave of his wand.
They continued in silence, both using nonverbal spells.
Snape sent a stunner at her direction, which she blocked and replied with a Stinging Hex. He cut off her hex and threw a nonverbal Colloshoo, which was blocked by her. Curses, hexes and jinxes were flying rapidly from both directions, and all around them by the other duellers.
Hermione began to think that they were quite at the same skill level, but then he managed to hit her with one of his own jinxes; after she'd sent a curse towards him, Snape ducked and sent a nonverbal Levicorpus at her. When Hermione felt the tell-tale tug in her ankle, she quickly cast a nonverbal Liberacorpus. Snape blanched.
"How did you know to deflect that?" Snape demanded darkly. "Where'd you learn that?"
Hermione arched her brow in mock innocence and smiled. "Stupefy!" She shot the stunning curse verbally.
He blocked it deftly before casting a Jelly-Legs curse, also verbally, causing her legs to collapse beneath her and finally he managed to disarm her. "Expelliarmus!"
Her wand flew across the room to his hand. "Finite," Snape murmured and her legs could carry her again. He walked to her and held his hand, which Hermione hesitantly took and stood up. He placed her wand back to her hands, eyeing her searchingly. Hermione noticed that almost everyone in the room had already finished with their duelling, so most of them were watching her duel against Snape with mixed looks of surprise and interest.
"Nicely done, everyone!" Professor Prewett called in the middle of the class, beaming at the students.
When the class was over, everyone began gathering their belongings and heading towards lunch. As Hermione collected her bag from the back of the class and glanced up, she saw Professor Prewett eyeing her with a strange look in his eyes.
"Miss Dumbledore, I'd like a word with you," he said to her as Hermione was passing him and walking towards the door. She tensed a bit but turned around and stood in place, wondering what he wanted to talk about.
After the last student had left the class, Professor Prewett spoke to her. "Let's go to my office, Miss Dumbledore," Professor Prewett said, and walked to the door in the corner, which Hermione presumed lead to his office. Hermione nodded and followed him.
As they entered the small and unpretentious office, he gestured at the chair in front of his desk, while he took a seat on the other side of it. Hermione sat down and took in her surroundings. The first thing she noticed were several photographs of red-haired witches and wizards. She quickly averted her eyes from the pictures, as they brought back memories she didn't want to delve in right now. Instead she moved her gaze to the corner, where there was a comfortable looking armchair and a large bookshelf filled with interesting looking volumes, which she itched to browse.
As Hermione studied his office, Professor Prewett eyed her carefully. When Hermione shifted her eyes back to him, feeling rather nervous, she could not but admire his looks. He was tall, broad-shouldered and handsome, with wavy red hair coming down to his shoulders, cerulean blue eyes and a compelling smile. And he was smiling at her, now.
But that didn't make her any less uncomfortable as she waited for him to speak.
"The reason I asked you here, is that I want to thank you." Professor Prewett started.
Hermione furrowed her brows, "Oh...I'm afraid I don't understand, sir."
He smirked. "You can call me Gideon outside class."
"Um...okay. Er, why do you want to thank me, si…Gideon?" She frowned at him.
"Well, for saving my life, actually. And my brother's as well. So...Thank you. I'm in your debt." he said, staring at her sincerely.
"You're…welcome?" She said unsurely, still slightly puzzled by his words. Saving his life? Gideon and Fabian...they'd been on her list. The list of casualties. Had something happened? Had something changed?
Hermione started to feel very alarmed and didn't even notice at first as the man in front of her became more serious, the look in his eyes turning slightly suspicious.
"What I would like to know, Miss Dumbledore, is how a seventeen-year-old student would have that kind of information. How would you know about a Death Eater trap placed for me and my brother?" He asked darkly.
Was that how it had originally happened? And now she had changed their fates? Hermione's mind was whirling. She bit her lip, trying to focus on the now and gave Gideon a nervous glance. "I...I'm actually eighteen. And…I don't know if I can talk about it…" she said with a small grimace.
Gideon studied her features. "Miss Dumbledore. Your uncle said that we are going to have a conversation soon together, so does it matter if you tell me now, or later when we meet with the Headmaster?" he asked, not taking no for an answer.
Hermione looked up, giving him a wary look. "It's Hermione. And...I really think we should wait until we meet with the Headmaster—"
"Look, Hermione. I'm going to find out about it sooner or later anyway." He interrupted, giving her a pointed look.
She chewed the corner of her mouth and pondered what exactly she could tell him? What the hell had Dumbledore told Gideon? Shouldn't he have discussed it with her first? Hermione and Dumbledore had agreed that they would not speak about the circumstances regarding her arrival in this time with anyone, so what was the old man doing?
Even so, she knew she could trust Gideon, since Gideon was Molly Weasley's brother, and a trusted member of the first Order. She knew she couldn't talk about the future before she had had a talk with Dumbledore, and before the man in front of her had taken an Unbreakable Vow or something, since in the end, very few people could be trusted. What if someone used Legilimency on him and that way extracted information about a time-traveller? She wasn't sure if the Vow protected from Legilimency… Then she would be screwed. And Voldemort surely would make other plans to strengthen his immortality.
She decided that part of the truth would have to suffice. Hermione took a deep breath and spoke with an expressionless face. "I had a vision about you and your brother being tortured and killed by Death Eaters who had lured you into a trap."
In truth, they hadn't spoken that much about the deaths on the list she had given Dumbledore, but he had said that he would be sharing the information with the Order if necessary. So perhaps they had managed to save two lives already, if Gideon and his brother now were in her debt. The thought both terrified and excited her.
They were both silent for a moment. Gideon rubbed his temple and stared at her with a contemplative look. "Are you a seer, Hermione?" he asked slowly, eyeing her carefully.
Hermione felt bad for lying to him, but she had to say something. "I'm...I'm not sure. I just know things. And I know that I don't want him to know the things I know, if you know what I mean?" She said pointedly, giving Gideon a hard look.
Gideon quickly nodded in understanding. "Don't worry, Hermione. I will tell about this to my brother, but no one else, I assure you. Your secret is safe with us. The Aurors are taught Occlumency, and my brother and I are quite proficient with it, so I hope this eases your mind a bit." He said reassuringly, smiling at her.
"Thank you for telling me, Hermione." He continued, smiling at her while shaking his head in astonishment. Hermione nodded and gave him a small smile in return.
"I'm afraid I have someplace to be right now, but…perhaps you could stay after the next class as well, so that we can continue this discussion? There are some things you should know." He said, stood up and walked to the door, holding it open for her.
"Oh. Okay," Hermione said and stood up. She picked up her schoolbag while Gideon returned to his desk and then Hermione left his office, feeling very much confused and very much in the need to figure out what had happened.
September 6th 1977 (Tuesday)
The next afternoon Hermione walked with Remus to the Ancient Runes class, after having double Transfiguration and double Charms. Tuesdays seemed to be rather exhausting days, since every class they had required their utmost concentration, which made Hermione and Remus both stay in a comfortable silence as they walked through the halls.
Lily had said that she would be catching them up, since she had had a quick Heads' errand to run, and Peter had stayed behind Charms class to talk about the assignment Professor Flitwick had given them, so he too would be following them a bit later. The rest of the seventh year Gryffindors had a free period.
As they neared the hallway where their Ancient Runes class was being held, Hermione's thoughts wandered to the previous night. After dinner on Monday night, Hermione had gone to see Dumbledore. What she had discussed with Gideon – the information she had received, had bothered her throughout the day. She had kept thinking that if something had indeed changed since the Prewetts had been attacked but survived from it. Dumbledore had calmly explained to her what had happened in their assignment, and how the Order had been able to prepare for a trap because of Hermione's help.
But when Hermione had told the Headmaster that the believed that the attack against the Prewetts had actually happened a couple of years later in her time, Dumbledore had merely said that the occurrence might have been just that, which meant that Hermione was in an alternate timeline, or, that the incident hadn't actually happened yet, and would happen eventually.
Hermione had eventually returned to her dormitory, feeling frustrated and anxious for not being any wiser about her situation.
"So how are you adjusting to Hogwarts?" Remus asked after a long silence, as they sat down next to each other on a bench in the hall, opposite to their classroom.
Hermione thought about her answer for a moment. She'd had so much going on already, and it was only the third day of classes. "Well… As good as I can, I think…" She replied, giving him a small smile. "There's just so much to get used to, and it's a bit overwhelming. I mean, people are different here, and very close and familiar with one another. And the classes are different…" She said, her voice trailing off.
It was totally a lie, although the content of the lessons was new to her, and everything going on between her classes - getting to know everyone, her own missions and the Order business - not forgetting about her past life and the research she had going on regarding that, made her feel she was quite overwhelmed indeed.
Remus nodded understandingly. "I know what you mean. When I first came here, I thought I wasn't going to last the first year. I was very lonely, kept to myself a lot at first, as it was hard for me to get to know anyone… I thought I didn't deserve anyone's friendship. And because my mum's being ill quite often, I have to study harder to keep up with everyone so that I can visit her when necessary. I still don't quite know how I managed to make friends and survive this far." He chuckled.
Hermione knew he was talking about how his Lycanthropy had affected his life. She wished she could've just told him that she knew, but it would have been too suspicious. She had to wait at least a couple of full moons. Her heart broke a little to hear he had been a lonely first year, just like she had been before she, Harry and Ron had become best friends. She gave him a sad smile and sighed, feeling a rush of emotions course through her.
"I miss my old life…I miss my friends." She whispered, blinking away tears. She couldn't start crying now, for Merlin's sake. Their class was about to start.
Remus took her hand and squeezed it before he spoke, "I'm sorry, Hermione. I can't even imagine how it would feel like to leave your friends behind. I mean, I don't even want to imagine a life without my mates…" He said compassionately.
"But you shouldn't be afraid to make new friends, you know? They won't erase the ones you already have. And there are still ways to stay in touch with them, even though you're not seeing them on a daily basis, right?" He said sensibly, smiling at her. He thought her friends were still in Australia…If he only knew…
Remus talking about not even being able to imagine a life without his friends made Hermione grievously think that in a few years he was going to know exactly how it felt, if something wasn't done about it.
If she wasn't going to do something about it.
September 8th 1977 (Thursday)
On Thursday evening the seventh year Gryffindors were having dinner at their table in the Great Hall. They had had a double DADA –lesson in the morning, and as promised, Hermione had stayed behind to talk with Gideon. She had come to lunch so late that the others had already gone to the next class, which was Charms.
"So, Hermione, what did Prewett want with you today? I mean, he asked you to stay after class again," Sirius asked from opposite of Hermione, eyeing her closely. He had pushed his food around sullenly the whole dinner, his eyes never leaving her.
"Professor Prewett," Hermione corrected and gave him a cautious look before smiling at him. She had already agreed with Gideon that if someone asked about why she was spending extra time with their DADA professor, they would say that they were just filling in the blanks in her education, since the curriculum of the Defence Against Dark Magic - the subject that was taught in the Australian Wizarding School - wasn't as broad as DADA's contents in Hogwarts were.
"Oh, we're just going through the curriculum of the DADA. It isn't exactly the same as what is taught in my previous school, so Gideo...I mean, Professor Prewett just wants me to be prepared for my NEWT's." She answered simply, flushing slightly from her slip, knowing fully well she was chastising him a mere moment ago.
Sirius and James exchanged a sharp look. Hermione knew that Sirius had been watching her more carefully for the past few days, since she had stayed after the DADA class on Monday to have a chat with Gideon. She hadn't been oblivious to the seething looks he had given to the Professor either, whenever Hermione had exchanged words with him in the hallways outside classes.
Hermione suspected that perhaps someone – well, Sirius – might think that their DADA Professor had some ulterior motives behind his friendliness, but she couldn't exactly prove him how wrong those thoughts were since she wasn't supposed to talk about the Order or anything regarding it to the others. And thus, she had to hope that her explanation of catching up with schoolwork would be enough to answer the questions her friends might have.
Sirius gave her a fleeting quizzical look and merely nodded, and they spent the rest of the dinner time talking with their other housemates. After finishing their meal, Hermione, Lily, James and Sirius headed towards the Astronomy Tower while the rest of the seventh year Gryffindors, who didn't take NEWT Astronomy, went back to the Gryffindor tower.
Once or twice a month the Astronomy lesson was for stargazing, if the sky was clear enough, and otherwise the lesson would be held in a classroom attached to the tower. That night their lesson was held in the classroom.
"Hey Pads, did you hear about the man who stayed up all night looking for the sun to come up?" James said under his breath, grinning at Sirius as the boys sat down behind Hermione and Lily.
Sirius huffed a laugh and said, "Yes, but I'll humour you, Prongs. What happened?"
"It finally DAWNED on him." He replied, smirking. Both boys sniggered, while Lily and Hermione exchanged a look of exasperation before throwing the boys a couple of scowls.
"Good evening class. We will start the term by revising some earlier topics which are part of the NEWT's curriculum." Professor Moonshine started when all the students were seated in the classroom.
"So, we are talking about the solstices and equinoxes today. Can someone tell me what the words Solstice and Equinox mean?" He viewed the class expectantly. Lily's hand shot up. "Yes, Miss Evans?"
"The words are from Latin, sir. Solstice means 'sun stands still;' equinox means 'equal night'." Lily answered, quoting their Astronomy book word for word.
"Couldn't phrase it better myself," Professor Moonshine smiled. "And what about when the solstices and equinoxes happen? Anyone? How about our transfer student? Miss Dumbledore?" The Professor looked at Hermione and smiled in encouragement.
"Er...The vernal equinox occurs on, or around March 21; summer solstice on, or around June 21; autumnal equinox on, or around September 23; winter solstice on, or around December 22." She replied anxiously. While in her past she had been eager to answer questions and prove herself, here in this era, she wanted to keep a low profile and not to draw attention to herself. At least, no more than her new last name already did.
Professor Moonshine beamed at her. "Right you are, too! Ten points to Gryffindor for exemplary answers."
When the class was finished, Hermione felt someone tap her shoulder. When she turned, Sirius was there, smiling at her a bit nervously.
"Hey…can we chat for a minute?"
Hermione knew they would have to talk eventually. About what she had heard in the library and what had happened before that, at the party. When they had nearly kissed. She nodded tensely to him, turned to Lily and said to her, "Go ahead to the dorms. I'll catch you up."
Lily eyed Hermione and Sirius closely before answering, "Sure. James?" she turned towards James who was at his table, gathering his things and throwing them into his school bag. He looked up at Lily with reserve in his eyes.
"Walk with me to the dorms, will you? These two are staying behind for a chat," Lily said a bit awkwardly, and nodding to Hermione's and Sirius's direction. As Hermione glanced at the Head students, she couldn't help but wonder if there was something going on between the two of them. They seemed somewhat cautious around one another, and didn't really make any eye contact. Hermione made a mental note to ask Lily about it later on.
"Yeah, uh, sure. Lily. Let's go," James answered, equally uncomfortable.
There definitely was something unresolved between the Head students, Hermione concluded as she watched them prepare to leave. They all left the class and Hermione and Sirius trailed behind James and Lily as they walked down the corridor in silence. Hermione peeked up at Sirius through her lashes, and he glanced at her from the corner of his eye, his lips twitching.
While James and Lily went ahead along the corridor, Sirius suddenly took Hermione's hand and pulled her through a tapestry, to a hidden passageway that lead near the Gryffindor tower. Hermione followed after letting out a startled sound, feeling slightly surprised and nervous.
"Sirius—"
"Kitten—"
They both started talking at the same time, stopping in their tracks and grinning at each other. Sirius motioned for her to go first.
"Sirius...I…I need to tell you something," she said with a sombre voice.
Sirius's brows furrowed slightly as he took in her serious expression, and his eyes moved over her face searchingly before he spoke. "Okay."
"I met your brother...and I think he is going to do something bad..." Hermione said, staring at him with worry as she saw his posture stiffening. "I saw him at the library a few days back, and he was talking with someone about choosing him," she continued, giving him a pointed look.
Sirius's eyes turned cold, his expression shifting quickly to an unreadable one. "That fucking arsehole..."
"Maybe…Maybe he just thinks it's the safest option? Maybe he thinks that he doesn't have a choice?" She said slowly, aiming for a cautious voice as she placed her hand against his arm in a calming gesture.
Sirius spoke through gritted teeth. "Oh, he has a choice. He knows he has a choice. Because I tried to give him one…I tried to take him with me…" He hissed bitterly and ran a hand through his hair. "Who was he talking to?" Sirius asked darkly.
"It...it was Snape..." she said quietly, hoping he wouldn't lose his temper.
"Fucking Snivellus," Sirius growled. "That greasy son of a bitch!" He grumbled venomously. "Bloody gits the both of them." He continued, now more wearily as he rubbed his temple.
"But it seemed that they both were a bit hesitant of joining. And I think there might be a chance to get him on our side nevertheless." She said sincerely. Sirius's eyes snapped back to hers, suspicion flickering in them.
"Why do you say that?" He asked slowly, his eyes narrowing and scrutinising her.
"I, um…may have had chat with him." Hermione said with a small cringe.
"What?" Sirius asked blankly.
Hermione winced. "He must've figured out that I heard their conversation, and then he came to me and asked a bunch of questions, some of them about you…" she said, giving him a helpless look.
Sirius arched a brow but said nothing. Hermione wanted to squirm under his hard stare, and she had to look away. She also knew she had to explain him everything there was to the incident.
"I told him that we've just met, nothing more than that. And I asked for him to think it over, to think about the consequences, and, um…what it would do to you as well…" Hermione explained and Sirius merely watched her with a calculating look in his eyes.
After a short silence Sirius let out a frustrated huff and threaded both hands through his hair. "You know, you didn't have to talk to him. But...thank you," he murmured, his eyes staring at her with that hard look again, and this time Hermione held his stare as Sirius took a step towards her. He was standing so close that Hermione could feel the warmth of his body. Then his fingertips traced the angle of her jaw, and Hermione shivered slightly. The pad of his thumb brushed her lips, and Hermione could only stare at his glowing grey eyes, mesmerised by their beauty. She knew it wasn't wise to engage in anything with him, but she was leaning into him nevertheless. She felt intrigued by him, and being there so close to him made her want to reach towards the feeling of excitement she had in the bottom of her stomach.
Slowly, Sirius leaned towards her, closing the distance between their lips. He kissed her softly, waiting for her to pull away, his hand feathering against her cheek. When she didn't move, he met her lips again, more determinedly, and Hermione kissed him back. At first, their kiss was slow, curious and earnest, and as their lips pressed together, again and again, the kiss became more intense, and Hermione could feel Sirius restraining himself, as if keeping himself from devouring her. It was enticing, thrilling even. Hermione let out a breathy sigh, and then her tongue tentatively met his.
Sirius faltered, his breath stuttering before he moved his hand from her cheek and slid it into her hair, angling her head for better access for his mouth. He slowly pushed her against the stone wall, taking a hold of her waist with one hand while the other stayed tangled in her curls. Hermione sighed with need and gripped his wide shoulders for support as Sirius leaned down so close, his mouth brushing against hers, his warm breath mingling with hers before diving into another searing kiss. Her hands followed the lines of his neck, threading through the black locks on the back of his neck, tugging it gently. Hermione smiled against his lips as she heard him let out a small whine.
The hand on her waist moved downwards to her hips and then to her behind, while their lips kept gliding against each other with a fiery passion. His fingers flexed over her bum, caressing her, making delicious shivers run through her spine, making her breathe heavily against his mouth. Sirius pressed her against his hips, and she could feel exactly how aroused he was. Feeling him like that made her breath catch in her throat and her heart beat faster. Hermione shifted against him, feeling light-headed, drawing out a moan from him that was muffled against her lips before he broke the kiss and pulled slightly back. Both of them were panting slightly as they watched each other with a mix of surprise, longing and bewilderment.
"Sorry about that," He breathed, his brow slightly furrowed and eyes roaming over her face, as if trying to assess her reaction to what they'd just done. "There's something about you…something that's making it very hard for me to stay away from you...But I think you've figured that out already," Sirius continued quietly.
Hermione took in a shaky breath, feeling equally alarmed and thrilled as she realised what had just happened. She really didn't need to make things harder than they already were. Her situation was still unsolved, and that alone meant that she was not supposed to get involved with anyone.
"Sirius...," She whispered resignedly. He must've had seen it from her eyes because he broke away from her and took a step back.
He stared at her for a moment, looking upset. "But you don't feel the same I presume?" He asked mutedly.
"I...I don't know!" She exclaimed, placing her hands on his biceps, "It's just that...I think it's too soon...This is all happening too fast. I…I barely know you." She said sincerely. He stared at her with an unreadable expression in his stormy grey eyes before he finally nodded.
"We should go." She said softly.
"Yeah, Let's go," he sighed, took her hand and led them to the Gryffindor common room.
When they were about to enter through the portrait hole, he pulled her close to him again, in a soft, lingering kiss. The kiss wasn't as passionate as before, but more meaningful one. Hermione was startled but kissed him back all the same.
"Something for you to think about, kitten," He said with an intense gaze. He then took her hand again and led them to the common room. Sirius gave her hand a one final soft squeeze before sauntering to the boys' dormitories, a cheeky grin plastered on his face.
As Sirius stepped into his dormitory, James was lounging in his bed, still in his school robes. The shower was on, so Sirius presumed Remus was in the bathroom since Peter was in his bed, already asleep.
"I take it you asked her out, finally?" James said, smirking at Sirius. James had a Quidditch magazine open on his lap, and he was looking like the depiction of a carefree, laid-back guy.
Not even bothering to hide his grin, Sirius closed the door and walked towards his bed, which was opposite to James's. "Nope. That bird is a tough cookie, I'll give you that. But you know how I love the chase, right?" Sirius winked at James who shook his head with amusement.
"All bark and no bite, mate." James muttered, giving his attention again to the magazine.
Sirius started to disrobe himself but suddenly turned to face his friend. "Prongs..." He said hesitantly, as if debating with himself. "I just...I don't think I want to fuck this up…" He said unsurely.
Although Sirius had had several girls in his bed during the past few years, he rarely was this invested with any of them. A lot had changed in a week, when Sirius had been boasting about seducing Hermione. James wondered what was it that drove him. Was he done just trying to shag her and have it out of his system, and instead starting to… care for her?
"Just...Be careful with her, Pads. She may look and act like a tough one, but she might not be all that." James said with a sharp look.
Sirius hummed in comprehension as he went back to his nightly routine.
When Hermione opened the door to her dormitory, Lily jumped from her bed excitedly, "So? What did you guys talk...Oh Godric, you kissed him, didn't you?!" She squeaked and stared at Hermione's mussed hair and swollen lips. Hermione felt her cheeks heat and she looked down, walking briskly to her bed.
"Well, fess up, Dumbledore," Marlene demanded from her bed, where she was finishing her Charms essay. Hermione noticed that Alice and Mary too were staring at her from their beds, all of them clearly waiting for her to return so that they could have a lovely gossip before going to sleep.
"There's nothing much to tell. Yes, we kissed, but that's all." She looked at the other girls, trying to appear nonchalant. "There's nothing more than that. I mean, isn't that the kind of guy he is?"
The girls exchanged knowing looks before Lily spoke, sounding unsure, "Well, yes, he is. But I think he is acting a bit differently with you. I mean, did he try to do more than just kiss you? Like, did he try to undress you or anything?"
Mary snorted while Alice and Marlene grinned at Lily. Lily glanced at the others. "Well, that's how he usually is, isn't he?" Lily said disapprovingly.
Hermione arched a brow at the redhead and shook her head, but then she remembered how he had pulled her tightly against him, how intense everything had been. It definitely seemed like he had wanted to do more than just kiss her. And as she felt her cheeks warm, she could only think if she'd have let him.
Alice lifted her brows at Hermione. "Earth to Hermione…" She said, a sly grin tugging her lips. "…so…something else did happen?" Alice continued promptly, watching her carefully.
Hermione pressed her lips together while everyone else stared at her with anticipation in their eyes. "Well…he, um...it was intense?" She tried, and after she saw the still expectant looks the others gave her, she continued, "Okay, this is so embarrassing to talk about, but during the kiss, I felt...you know, he...was very into it..." Hermione stammered, her face heating up as she looked at the others pointedly until Marlene and Alice burst into laughter, while Mary and Lily looked Hermione back with shocked expressions.
"Yes, we know, Hermione. At least, some of us do." Marlene said and smirked at Lily and Mary, who were both still taken aback, and apparently not used to this kind of revelations about men, since neither of them had had anything more than a casual snog before, even when dating.
"So…What happened then?" Alice asked excitedly, ignoring Lily and Mary, and grinning at Hermione.
"He apologised and backed off. Things were a bit heated before that and neither one of us was really thinking where everything was heading." Hermione said with helpless shrug.
The girls stared at her with surprised looks. "Well look at that. Maybe he could be in it for the long run, if he's trying to take things slow?" Alice said thoughtfully, while Lily and Mary nodded. Marlene eyed the others in disbelief before turning back to her essay.
"I don't know…maybe. I just don't know if I should be doing anything with him. I just came here and starting something with someone is just a bit overwhelming." Hermione said unsurely.
Truthfully, she felt wrong doing anything with Sirius, because he didn't know the truth about her. And then there was the fact that she had known the older Sirius. What if she would go back to her old life on some point and she would have to leave him behind? Or what if he would recognise her if she returned to her old life and things turned awkward? Was that even possible anymore? Hermione started to gather her books and organise her school bag for the next day before getting ready for bed.
When she finally climbed between her comfortable sheets, she felt exhausted. All the lying and scheming was taking its toll on her.
