Hogwarts (Challenges and Assignments).

Moresome May — triad: Sirius/Hermione/Remus — (action) sleeping

Sirius was awoken by a timid tap on his shoulder. After having lived through two wars, he was a very light sleeper. Remus was asleep beside him for warmth — and comfort, for both of their lives had been fraught with pain — so he assumed it was his other live in housemate, Hermione, who was standing over him.

"What's wrong?" he asked in a sleepy voice. He waved his hand at the curtains — wandless magic had become much easier of late — and dim, silvery light from the moon poured in, not brightening the room much, but making it possible to see the glistening tear tracks on Hermione's cheeks.

"I h —" she hiccuped "— had a b-bad dream." His face softened; he knew what she was talking about. "C-can I sleep with y-you?"

"Of course," he said. "Remus is in here, too, so you'll have to get in the middle. That okay, love?"

She nodded and Sirius saw a fresh tear escape the corner of her eye. She moved to swipe it away but he got there first, wiping under her eye with his thumb. "Don't cry, Kitten," he begged. "Shh, it's alright." He sat up, leaning against the headboard, as far to the right-hand side as he could get without falling off, and patted the space beside him. Thank Merlin it wasn't one of the nights Moony decided to turn into a bloody starfish and cling to him.

Hesitantly, she crawled over his body — which he admitted to himself felt mighty nice — and settled in next to him, drawing the covers up around herself.

"What's wrong?" Sirius asked again.

Hermione shook her head, making her riotous curls bounce. (One ended up in his mouth, which he promptly spat out. Her vanilla shampoo made her hair smell great, but it unfortunately didn't make it taste like dessert.)

"Just dreaming about the war," she said, voice barely above a whisper. "Of all the lives lost, both innocent and guilty."

Sirius could tell there was more bothering her, but didn't press. Thankfully, she continued.

"I dreamt of my visit," she practically spat the word, "to Malfoy Manor. Of my torture at the hands of Bellatrix Lestrange."

Sirius's fists clenched. Merlin, he loathed his cousin. Still did, truth be told, even though she was dead. He could have kissed Molly Weasley when he heard she had rid the world of that menace.

"I hate that bitch," he said.

Hermione snorted softly. "Who wouldn't?"

They both laughed a little at that, then Hermione yawned. "Thank you," she murmured drowsily.

Sirius almost replied, 'For what?' before Hermione gave a soft snore and he realised she was asleep.

"Goodnight, Kitten," he whispered. Sirius wrapped his arm around the tiny woman asleep beside him. He pressed a light kiss to her untamable curls, hugged her a bit closer to himself, and drifted off to sleep.

word count: 483