Disclaimer: Anything you recognise belongs to JKR... I am simply a visitor who has been allowed to play in her sandpit... :)

A/N: Sooner than I had anticipated, but the writing bug bit and I didn't feel like revising Chemistry... :) As much as I love the subject, I am having a rather bad day and didn't want to make it any worse...

Onwards and upwards!

Chapter 11

Previously: "You, young lady, have some explaining to do! You waltz out of here with one of my precious books, and re-enter nearly an hour later as if it is completely normal behaviour! I cannot believe the attitude of young people these days! One would think..." I switched off as she continued ranting, arranging my features into an expression of contriteness, and praying she would get tired of yelling at me before long.

This day was not getting any better.

I managed to prevent Madame Pince's tirade from lengthening too much when I apologised profusely and offered to help her in the library. After a suspicious glare and a lengthy pause, I hastily backed up the offer with tales of how much I loved the library, how books were as precious to me as any children of mine would be, and that I would do my utmost to treat them with the care and respect they deserved. She conceded, glaring at me one more.

"You put that book back, mind, in exactly the place you found it!" After affirming that I would, she finally let me go and I made my way back to the corner I had occupied previously, to collect my bag and replace the book.

I had a vague idea as to the location of the yearbook I was looking for; there was a far corner dedicated to them. I made my way over, heart sinking when I saw the enormous volume of... volumes. Some dated back to the 1500s and, I noted, were not in chronological order at all. 1659's class was next to that of 1843's, which was in turn had 1738's stuffed, upside down, next to it. I sighed, and got to work.

I quickly devised a plan that would, I hoped, take to pain out of searching for the right book. Looking back on my experiences as I write this, I must admit I kick myself for not having thought of a summoning charm – it would have saved me a lot of hassle – but I have to admit that living in the muggle world tends to make you forget about magic in what could be an ordinary, non-magical situation. So I spent the rest of the day sorting the books into sections – 1500 to 1550, then 1550 to 1600 and so on.

I was momentarily cheered when I found what I thought was 1830's yearbook, however I placed it on my antepenultimate pile with a sigh when I noticed it was in fact 1880's.

This is getting boring... I wonder what's for supper? My stomach rumbled loudly, and I sighed again. I seemed to be doing a lot of sighing that day, but even I had to admit that sometimes the library wasn't as fun as I sometimes made it out to be.

After another five minutes, my stomach growled at me again, and I decided to call it a day. Stacking the volumes I had sorted onto the shelves I had removed them from, I took a step back and regarded my handiwork. I was not even halfway yet, but the books seemed... happier.

They obviously don't get much looking at, stuck in such a lonely corner of the library, I mused as I collected my bag. I exited the library, then glanced at my watch.

Damn.

No wonder my stomach had been protesting so much – it was nearly 8:30pm and dinner had been over for a long time. Ah well, I thought to myself. I'll just go the kitchens, and ask the house-elves for some food. As much as I hated their enslavement, I hated being hungry even more.

On arrival at the painting of the fruit bowl that was the entrance to the kitchens, I tickled the pear, and turned the door knob. As I entered the large, brightly-lit room, I was struck with the general busyness of the place. Even still, as soon as I put a foot through the door, and small, possible female (it was so hard to tell!) house elf zoomed up to me as if wearing roller skates.

"How can Spinky be serving you today, Miss?" The little elf looked up at me with wide, green eyes, and a large, friendly smile.

"Um... well, I missed dinner – I was hoping you would have something left over that I could – "

Even before I had finished speaking, a great silver platter with matching cover was whizzing across the room towards me, then was deposited on the table to my left. The four elves who had been carrying it bowed, then scampered off to continue whatever tasks they had been doing before I entered. Spinky bowed and gestured to the platter.

"Spinky hopes Miss will enjoy the meal – is chicken and bacon pie that Spinky made herself, she did." She seemed to grow almost an inch as she said this, looking extremely proud with herself. I smiled.

"I'm sure I will do – thankyou very much! I have always liked the chicken and bacon pie here." As soon as I said this, I could have kicked myself – if any other phrase could have told anyone that I was from a different time, that one would! But Spinky did not seem perturbed at all.

"Spinky knows Miss has been here before, even if she has never seen her in this era before," she squeaked confidentially. "Spinky also knows that Miss is not wanting anyone to know this." She patted my hand comfortingly. "Spinky promises not to tell."

"Thankyou – I'm very grateful to you. It's very difficult, you know?" I continued as I sat down and removed the lid of the tureen. For some reason I felt as if I could confide in this small creature and not have all my secrets spilled. "I have two very good friends, where I come from, and I miss them very much. It's hard having the ability to change the outcome of something awful, when you know you mustn't... And of course," I mumbled through a very hot mouthful of chicken pie, "I still have to work out how to get back."

Spinky squeaked a warning before I said anything else, and I stopped.

"Fancy seeing you here, Mia." It was Sirius. He must have just come in – although why he would be in the kitchens at such a time, I hadn't a clue. He sat down opposite me, and smiled.

Spinky tugged on my sleeve and whispered a goodbye as a tureen arrived in front of Sirius too.

"Miss musn't worry – Sir only heard you saying you didn't know how to get back. Goodbye, Miss." She hurried off towards the oven and I lost sight of her behind a line of elves carrying barrels of something towards a cupboard.

There was a strained silence, and I busied myself with my pie, not looking at Sirius. He was obviously doing the same thing, for when I glanced up to see what he was doing, he seemed to have had the same idea, and our eyes met across the table. I looked away quickly and found, to my dismay, that I was blushing.

Stop it , Hermione! Remember – he's Harry's godfather, and you don't want to become emotionally attached to anyone here, so it won't be hard to go back.

Sirius almost seemed to read my thoughts.

"Where do you need to get back to?" I choked on my pie. Coughing, I said the first thing that came into my head.

"I was – cough – excuse me; told where to find the kitchens by Professor Dumbledore, as I was likely to miss supper. He didn't tell me how to get back to Gryffindor tower, though, so I'm a bit stuck. I should be able to manage, though." I added tersely: I still had not forgiven him for our argument of two days previous. I couldn't help but notice that at the mention of 'Dumbledore', Sirius' features seemed to stretch, and his face contorted into a grimace of discontent. I wondered what he and Dumbledore had been at loggerheads over – whatever it was, it had the power to turn Sirius into an almost perfect replica of a mountain troll on a bad day – it was not a pleasant sight. The phrase 'curiosity killed the cat' came into my head, but I brushed it aside, telling myself that I was human, not feline, and therefore it did not apply to me.

"If you want... I can show you the way back?" Sirius offered tentatively. I had a feeling this was the closest thing I would get to an apology, and sighed inwardly. I speared a potato to give me time to think.

If I said yes, he would think everything was all OK, and that I had forgiven him. If I said no, I was likely to be considered in the wrong and would have to spend an uncomfortable amount of time wandering the halls to keep up the act. So I had to compromise in some way.

"Fine. Thankyou." I said, shortly. He grinned and looked more cheerful. "However," I added, narrowing my eyes at him, "I have not yet forgiven you. You will have to do a bit more than offer to show me somewhere for me to forgive you." He rolled his eyes resignedly, and we ate the rest of the meal in a comfortable silence.

I had barely set my fork down on my plate before it was whizzed off by a speeding house-elf. Looking up, I saw that Sirius had finished at around the same time, and had merited the same treatment. We managed to make our way out of the kitchens without much ado, although Spinky did seem to decide that we needed an armful of pork pies to ensure we lasted the night (not that I am complaining – they are delicious little bundles of joy, but I didn't think I could manage anything else after the pie). Sirius, on the other hand, had no qualms about starting them as soon as we closed the portrait behind us. In a rather muffled voice, he explained that the Hufflepuffs' dormitories were just down the corridor. After he just missed spraying pastry over my robes, I took the remaining pies from him and stowed them in my bag – at his disappointed expression, I explained that it was not my aim in life to become a bird-table.

We arrived at Gryffindor tower about ten minutes later. I handed Sirius back the pies (I kept a couple for myself) and, as I did so, our hands accidentally brushed for the most fleeting of seconds. A shiver went up my spine, and I felt as if I had just gone down a dip on a rollercoaster ride. Sirius seemed unaffected.

"I'll see you tomorrow?" He asked softly. Maybe he wasn't as unaffected as I thought he had been.

"Possibly," I responded, in a voice as high-pitched as Spinky's. "I'll be at breakfast, and possibly lunch," I added, clearing my throat to try to sound a little more normal. Sirius shifted on his feet awkwardly.

"See you then, then." He said, finally, and gave the password to the Fat Lady, who swung open. I waved, and entered the Tower. I glanced back over my shoulder in the second before the portrait swung shut, to see him staring after me, a slight smile fixed on his face.

I got ready for bed in a dream-like sort of state. It wasn't right that someone should have such an effect on me – especially someone I knew as a forty-year old ex-convict – but I felt as if I was floating. So... this is what is meant by 'Cloud Nine'... I mused dreamily as I got into bed.

I lay awake for a little, thinking. The rational side of my brain – which had been out of order for the last half an hour – had come back with a vengeance and I was now having an internal argument. You won't believe that it is actually possible to argue with yourself until you do it but – trust me! – it actually happens and is a very odd experience.

Those eyes... So grey, and... and – I thought dreamily.

Stop it, Mia! You have to pull yourself together and think rationally! The voice insisted.

But his hands – they were so soft, and warm... I protested.

Listen to me – I'll say this slowly. You – are – NOT – going – to – develop – feelings – for – Sirius – Black. You – are – going – to – find – a – way – back – home.

Sirius Black... Those were the only words I had actually paid attention to, and the voice let out an exclamation of frustration.

Pull yourself together, woman! When it was obvious I was too far gone, the voice stated with exhasperation, Fine. I will leave you alone for now – go to sleep – and I hope that in the morning you will be relatively normal once more.

With that I was left to myself, and fell asleep dreaming of a pair of grey, dreamy eyes.

A/N: There you go – hope all you Sirius-Hermione shippers enjoyed the slight progress this chapter holds... It will speed up soon!

Please R&R on your way out – I hope to get the review count up to 50 by the next chapter – so if you are feeling generous, then please tell me what you think, even if it is only one line or even just one word... :)

Onwards and upwards!

xxx