AN: So, sorry this took a billion years to get posted, was having trouble getting it going the way I wanted. And I ended it sooner than I hoped because I really wanted to get something out to you patient readers. So yeah, I think this one is pretty fun, hope you all enjoy it! Oh, and of course, please read and review, I LOVE reading reviews, especially ones with details and thoughtful comments and stuff. Really, you have no idea how giddy I get… so yeah, anyways, review please!

Disclaimer: do not own anything but the kiddies, and our good friend Sebastian Marwick. If it was in the books, it isn't mine!

Chapter 11: Uninvited

"Hermione, we're going to be late!" Sirius called up the stairs, glancing at his watch impatiently.

Tonight was their night out together, just the two of them. They had a reservation at a quaint little Italian restaurant in London, and at the speed Hermione was going they would miss it for sure. He'd never pegged her for the kind of girl to take so long preening, but apparently she was. If he'd know that he would have told her they were leaving an hour earlier. Letting out another impatient sigh he glanced at his watch again to see another five minutes had passed.

"Hermione!" he called again, his voice edged with annoyance.

"Alright, alright, don't get your wand in a knot, I'm ready," Hermione said laughingly, descending the stairs unhurriedly.

Sirius couldn't stop the soft smile that pulled at his lips when he saw her. Now Sirius wasn't naïve to mistake his feelings for Hermione as love—they weren't anywhere near that deep, and his interest in earning her affections was for the purpose of having a place in this family and a possibility at someday being in love. But despite that, looking at the young woman in that moment took his breath away. She had never been a great beauty—she was no Fleur—but Sirius thought she looked quite pretty in an earthy, modest sort of way. With the kids dropped off at her parents' house early she'd had the time to cast extra charms on her hair to reduce her usual frizz so that it instead fell around her shoulders in pretty curls. They were in no way glossy and perfect, and looking at it Sirius almost thought the frizz would explode at any moment, but despite the threatening possibility it still looked quite nice as it fell around her shoulders. She'd dressed in a red dress that went down to her knees and complimented her tan complexion. It was in no way revealing or suggestive, instead making her look far more sophisticated than Sirius had seen her since they'd joined forced and she'd taken to wearing jeans and t-shirts most of the time, aside from the occasional day she had to run to the office. She'd finished off the look with a dash of light makeup and black heels. Sirius didn't think he'd ever seen her look so good.

"You look beautiful," he complimented, handing Hermione her cloak which she took with a smile.

"Thank you." Putting the cloak on as she glanced at the clock on the wall she indicated her head toward the door. "Well, we'd best be off then, wouldn't want to be late."

She turned, and Sirius saw the small smirk that played on her lips at his astounded expression. Shaking his head, his own smirk forming, he followed her out the door, pulling it shut behind him and setting up the wards with a flick of his wand.

Despite their late start Hermione and Sirius arrived at the restaurant with time to spare. They were situated at a nice little table. It wasn't secluded away in any corner for romantic purposes, though it also wasn't in the smack dab middle of the room. It was towards the front of the restaurant, off on the left side away from the front doors. It was the sort of table a couple of friends might sit at if they wanted to have a friendly, open chat, but without quite as much noise and movement. The perfect spot, Sirius thought, to become better acquainted with Hermione without any interruptions from children or certain friends.

"So," Sirius said as he picked up his menu, "how is work?"

Sirius was not the least bit interested in S.P.E.W., or any of it's goals. His experience with house elves had never been pleasant and he saw little point in his young wife's campaign for their wellbeing. However, she was very passionate about the subject. In fact, she was nearly obsessive. He'd never taken the time to understand her desire to help the creatures and knew that, even if he didn't agree, she's at the very least appreciate his interest and willingness to listen and discuss the controversial issue.

Hermione looked up from scanning the menu, her eyes brightening at this choice of topic. "Well, it is very difficult. Unfortunately many of the people I work with still have very archaic views on house elves. But I have been making progress. Slowly, of course, this is hardly something that can be changed overnight, but I'm confident that soon I'll have swayed a few of the more influential members of the board. If I can get them to agree with my campaign it will only be a matter of time before I have all the votes I need to send the S.P.E.W. act up to Kingsley."

"And you think Kingsley will pass it?" her older companion questioned, taking a sip of water.

She paused, brows furrowing, "Well," she said slowly, seeming to weigh her words carefully, "I don't believe he would refuse the act."

Sirius raised his brows, "But you aren't fully confident he will pass it?"

Hermione sighed, letting out a small puff of a laugh as she pushed some hair behind her ear, "Well, even if he doesn't pass it, I'll keep trying until he does. I'll get more evidence, more votes, and even public support if needed."

He grinned at her, "Hermione Granger doesn't do anything halfway," he noted.

She grinned back, then gave a mock scolding look, "That's Hermione Black, thank you very much."

This was met with a bark of laughter from Sirius, soon joined by Hermione's own infectious giggle. Composing himself, Sirius looked back down at the menu, glancing it over.

"What were you thinking of getting?" he questioned.

"Might I suggest starting with the bruschetta al pomodoro as an appetizer, followed by the caprese insalata, and finishing with the linguini di mare as your entrée. Unless, of course, you're in more of a meat mood, in which case I highly recommend the saltimbocca." The voice came from behind and to the right of Sirius. The man froze, his back going ramrod straight as he recognized the voice. It was the voice that belonged to the devil, and he dared not look and see with his eyes what he already knew.

Sebastian Marwick appeared beside the table now, smiling down at the couple—or, more specifically, at Hermione. Hermione, for her part, looked pleased as punch to see her friend. Sirius, on the other hand, had a blank expression, but his eyes looked like a smoldering gray storm. If this had been a cartoon there would surely have been steam coming out of his ears.

Should have put the bastard on babysitter duty, he thought viciously, hating for not having seen this coming.

"Bastian, what a coincidence, what are you doing here?" Hermione asked, still smile up at Sebastian.

"Coincidence my arse," Sirius muttered, glaring at the intruder.

Hermione, having her him speak but not his words, turned to look at him curiously, "What was that, Sirius?"

"I just said how it truly was a coincidence, that's all dear," he replied, plastering on a fake smile. Locking eyes with the younger man, the two exchanged a look that said they knew exactly what Sirius had said. Marwick's lip twitched into a small smirk, making Sirius's blood boil.

Turning to address the young woman, Marwick smiled, "Well it just so happens that a good friend of mine owns this restaurant—thus, I have an open invitation to eat here whenever I like. It has excellent food, I assure you. I was just going to have a dinner to myself tonight." He explained this so easily, weaving his words to make it seem almost pitiable that he was eating alone. Sirius saw his wife's face softening at his misfortune—to think, he was eating all alone! She was becoming putting in the young man's hands, Sirius could see her melting right in front of him. So, it came as no surprise when she next spoke.

"Eat alone? Oh no, you can join Sirius and I, we're just having a little time away from the kids, and we really don't mind," she turned to look at her husband, "do we Sirius?"

Now, Sirius was about to say just how much he did mind having the wife-stealing wanker dine with him, but he saw the look on Hermione's face and realize that this was not a conversation up for debate. So, forcing a pained smile, he looked up at his rival.

"Sure we don't. Have a seat, Marwick," he bit out the name, clenching his teeth in displeasure at how the evening was turning out. Idly he thought of ways he could murder Sebastian Marwick without anyone knowing it had been him. Maybe he could slip some poison in the man's tea when he came for one of his random visits. Or, maybe during the night, when Hermione was asleep, he could sneak out and go kill the pest in his sleep. Or he could perhaps find a way to get one of those giant spiders from the Forbidden Forest at Hogwarts into Marwick's house. Or he could make a portkey and have it bring Marwick to the Forbidden Forest to experience all the horrors all at once. Yes, he liked that idea a great deal.

Watching Marwick pull up a chair from an empty table nearby he seated himself between the couple, closer to Hermione, Sirius noticed with distain.

Yes, I'm definitely gonna talk to Harry about getting an unregistered portkey… he decided, eyeing the distance between the two other table occupants irritably. Hermione, of course, noticed nothing. For such a smart witch she truly was clueless.

This was gonna be a long night.