have a little patience, loves. I promise there's a happy ending, but first we've got to get a little angstiness out of the way. you're gonna hate me in a couple chapters anyway, so i'm not worried. it will be good, so just breathe.~K.
A few days later in the evening., Sirius was reading the Prophet in the living room while Draco and Harry played wizard's chess. Hermione hadn't spoken to him since dismissing him from her room that night, and the tension had begun to be palatable. Sirius avoided Harry's worried glances and dodged Draco's leading questions. Hermione, on the other hand, simply ignored his presence whenever they shared a room. She had taken to spending long hours alone in her room, even avoiding the garden whenever Sirius was awake. They heard the distinct sound of feet on stairs, and Hermione entered the room. She was dressed in jogging shorts and a t-shirt.
"I'm going out for a run," she announced.
"Want company?" Sirius offered. They'd been out running together since he'd been home. She steadfastly ignored him.
"I'll be back in an hour or two," she said, looking to Harry.
"Everything all right?" Harry asked, darting his eyes from Hermione to Sirius.
"Fine. I'll be back later." She nodded to Draco and left.
"Sirius?" Harry asked once she'd left. "Want to tell us what's going on?"
"Dunno," he said, shrugging.
"Hermione hasn't spoken to you in days," Harry said. "Did you two get into a fight or something?"
"I said some stuff 'bout Weasley. Must've pissed her off."
Draco raised an eyebrow at Harry. None of them bought that answer, but they knew they wouldn't get anywhere by pestering him. "Harry, do you know where my file on the Moxley case is?" Draco asked casually.
"Yeah, I think I saw it in your room," Harry said.
"Help me look for it?" Harry nodded, rising from his chair. The men left the room, Sirius calling after them.
"You're not subtle, you know!"
Ignoring him, they went up to Draco's room. "What do you think?" Harry asked, lounging on Draco's bed.
"It's not just that he said something about Weasley," Draco said. "Spots doesn't hold grudges, and if he pissed her off, she would've just had it out with him."
Harry nodded, patting the space next to him. Draco flopped down, smiling when Harry started running his fingers through his hair.
"Maybe something happened between Mione and Sirius," Draco suggested. "Something of the naked and sweaty persuasion." He turned over, propping himself up on one arm. He trailed his fingers over Harry's abdomen.
"Do you think they'd do that?" Harry asked. "I mean, Sirius, sure, but Hermione would never cheat on Ron. Even though I'm sure Ron is cheating on her."
"You have proof?"
"I heard Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown talking in the elevator last week," Harry said. "Ron and Lavender had a thing in school."
"Trust me, I know," Draco said with a grimace. Harry raised an eyebrow at him. "I caught them in an empty classroom sixth year. Lemme just say this: even Weasley's arse is freckled."
Harry wrinkled his nose in distaste. "Ugh. I have never wondered that."
"Good," Draco said, grinning.
"You know…" Harry said, matching his grin. "Sirius won't come up here and Hermione will be gone for awhile…"
"I like the way you think," Draco said. He moved over Harry, kissing him soundly. Harry barely remembered to shut the door and put up silencing spells.
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Sirius was dozing in the living room when the first clap of thunder startled him awake. It was pouring rain outside when he went to the window. A bolt of lightning flashed over the sky. Was Hermione home yet? He didn't know how long he'd been sleeping, and worry clenched his stomach. Glancing back outside at the storm, he ran upstairs, taking the steps two at a time.
"Mione?" he called, knocking on her door. Her room was empty. Draco and Harry came out of Draco's room, hair a mess and Harry's shirt half buttoned.
"What's going on, Sirius?" Harry asked.
"Have you heard Mione come home?" he asked. "There's a big storm out. If she's still out-"
He was cut off by the sound of the front door opening and Hermione's voice calling out. "Boys? Anyone home?"
Harry smiled. "There. You were worried for nothing."
"Yeah," Sirius said, still shaken from the fear for Hermione. Not that she couldn't take care of herself, of course. But he'd come into this family, and it had truly frightened him to see that storm and not known where she was.
"Now, go back downstairs. We'll be down for dinner in a bit," Harry said. Sirius nodded distractedly, already making his way downstairs. Hermione stood in the entryway, completely soaked to the skin. She was shivering, and something snapped inside Sirius.
"What the hell were you doing out in the storm like that?" he asked, immediately guiding her into the living room. He lit a fire in the grate, even though it was a warm summer, and took a blanket from the sofa. He wrapped it around her tightly and pushed her toward the chair by the fire.
"I'm fine, Sirius," she protested as he stared her down.
"Sure you are," he said snappishly. "What if you'd been hit by lightning? You could've been killed! You should've Apparated home as soon as the rain started."
"Didn't realize you cared," she muttered, pouting. Sirius sighed.
"I fell asleep," he admitted. "I woke up and it was raining buckets, and I didn't know where you were. It… it scared me."
"Oh," she said, blushing. "I wasn't terribly far away when the rain started. It only got bad the last two hundred meters or so."
"You're soaked," he mumbled, kneeling in front of her. He touched her dripping hair gently.
"I'm sorry for worrying you," she said. He smiled softly up at her, enjoying the warmth in her eyes that had been absent the last few days.
"I'm sorry about the other day," he said. "I shouldn't have pushed you like that. And… I know you… are with him. I just-"
"Shh," she said, touching his mouth with two fingers. "It's forgiven and forgotten." She smiled a little. "Gods, it's been a horrid day. Maybe we should just go to bed and start over." She blushed vibrantly. "I- I mean go to bed separately, of course. Not to your bed, or to my bed, but…" She covered her face with one hand. "Make me stop."
He chuckled, touching her cheek with one hand. "Go take a shower, love. I'll make up some dinner, and then you can go to your own bed, all alone."
She raised an eyebrow. "Do you even know how to cook?"
He pinched her shoulder. "Oi! I'll have you know that I'm a master chef. When it comes in a box. But I can make up some sandwiches and stuff."
"Fine," she laughed. "But don't touch the cake I've made for the party!"
"Yes, sir, general," he mocked, saluting. She swatted at him as he stood. He helped her to her feet, taking the damp blanket from her and swatting at her behind as she left. He heard her giggles as she walked down the hall.
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Sirius was alone, falling. Darkness surrounded him. He could hear screams, wails of agony. It reeked of sulfur, and he couldn't breathe. An enormous weight seemed to be crushing his chest. Someone was screaming his name frantically, but he couldn't reach them. "Sirius! Sirius!"
"Sirius! Wake up!" Someone was shaking him. His eyes shot open and locked on Hermione's worried face. She leaned over him, her curls falling over one shoulder and dangling across his chest.
"Oh," he panted, struggling for breath.
"That was a bad one," she said, stroking his sweaty brow. He nodded shakily.
"What time is it?" he asked, still staring at her.
"Too early to be up yet," she said. She touched his cheek gently. "Calm down. Close your eyes and go back to sleep. No more dreams tonight."
He murmured sleepily as she continued running her hand over his face. She caressed both cheekbones and traced a finger over his jaw. He closed his eyes as she lifted her hand to run her fingers through his long hair. He felt her get up from her spot next to him on the bed and his eyes shot open. "Stay. Please."
She looked torn, conflicted. "I don't think that's a good idea, Sirius."
"Please," he said again. "I see- I can't be alone. Please don't leave me alone."
After a long moment she relented, smiling softly at him. "Okay," she said. "Calm down. I won't leave you." She climbed into the bed next to him and pulled his discarded quilt over her body. Sirius stayed under the sheets as she turned and presented her back to him. He leaned into her, wrapping a strong arm around her waist. He was asleep in seconds.
Okay, lemme just say something real quick- Hermione's not going to just dump ron just because Sirius is here and gorgeous. yeah, she's thinking about it, but she can't just dump the guy she's spent 5 years with, even though he's a prick. she's not that kind of girl. just be patient and give me a few more chapters, okay? please? pretty please?~K.