A/N: I HAVE A BETA!!
I'm very excited about this, because that means someone incredibly intelligent will be looking over my work and picking out those tiny mistakes I don't catch. And I'm blessed with the awesomest beta EVER! Thanks GVSL - You're the best!!
SO...ONWARD HO, AND READ AND REVIEW PLEASE!!
Chapter Fourteen: An Interesting Proposal
"Merlin's beard, 'Mione," Ginny gasped two days later when Hermione gleefully showed her friend her new house. "This is absolutely…"
"Breathtaking," Hermione finished, gazing lovingly around her new home, it's grandeur and beauty still never ceasing to amazing her.
Ginny had started badgering Hermione the minute she had gotten back to Grimmauld Place and had seen the enamored look on her friend's face. Hermione had wanted to show Ginny the house the next day, but despite the advantages magic afforded to the wizarding world, bureaucracy was still infuriatingly slow and it took almost a full day for all the paperwork to sort itself out. In the meantime, the two witches had holed themselves up in Hermione's room, packing and discussing the house in such detail that upon entrance, Ginny almost felt like she had been there already.
"And Dumbledore bequeathed this to you? No questions asked?"
"Yes. I suppose I was a little relieved that an old set of wizard fairy tales wasn't the only thing Dumbledore left me to remember him by."
They ascended the stairs and looked through the rooms, all the while discussing the decorating plans Hermione had outlined. Ginny was both amused and thrilled by Hermione's plans to create a room for each of the four houses in Hogwarts.
"I'm surprised you're going to have a Slytherin room," Ginny said, gazing around the green room and imagining the silver accents Hermione wanted to add. "I'm not going to lie and say that I appreciate those dirty snakes."
Hermione chuckled.
"I think Dumbledore would have wanted it," she said. "He was always emphasizing unity versus discord when it came to house pride. Plus, it's not like we don't owe a great deal to one particular snake."
Though she would never admit it to his face, Hermione had long admired her former Potions professor for his courage and loyalty in those dark days, even though a large population of the Order believed his guilt after Dumbledore's death, herself included. Once Dumbledore's portrait had vindicated Snape the day before the Hogwarts battle, however, Hermione began to truly appreciate the sacrifices the man had made.
"I know everyone will love their rooms, 'Mione," Ginny said as they walked toward the master bedroom. "I'm just interested in knowing why you and Sirius decided to share a room."
Hermione sighed. Though they hadn't discussed it prior to buying the house, Hermione was fairly certain there was a quiet understanding between them that they would have to share a room. In spite of Mr. Weasley's assurances that the Ministry would contact them prior to any inspection, neither of them put it past the currently-corrupt government to show up completely unannounced. Since they were already skating on fairly thin ice, Hermione knew she could tolerate sharing the large bedroom more than risking an annulment and subsequent marriage to a Death Eater.
She could only assume this, however, as she and Sirius hadn't spoken since their return to Grimmauld Place that past Sunday evening.
As Ginny 'oohed' and 'ahhed' at the beauty of the Mt. Olympian fresco, Hermione thought about the past two days. When she had emerged from her room to prepare dinner Sunday evening, Lupin informed her that Sirius had left with Harry, undoubtedly planning on having a little heart-to-heart with the stubborn younger man regarding the situation. Ron and Luna had gone to her father's house for dinner, effectively leaving Hermione and her fatigued ex-lover alone. Feigning a lack of appetite, Hermione had barricaded herself in her room until Ginny had returned from practice. Taking pity on her hungry friend, Ginny had gone down to the kitchen under the pretense of a Ron-like hunger kick and had made a pile of cheese sandwiches to bring back up to the room.
Ginny hadn't had the heart to tell Hermione about Lupin's disappointed face.
The next morning, under Ginny's strict orders to "act like a Gryffindor, damnit!" Hermione had gone down to breakfast, hoping the events of the previous day had blown over enough for them all to act like civilized human beings.
It had been one of the most awkward meals of her life.
Despite Ron and Luna's cheerful greetings, Harry had ignored her with a voracity that shocked even her. Even with Ginny's poignant looks and Ron's soft – albeit far from subtle – urgings, Harry seemed adamant that Hermione's existence was no longer his concern. Things just got worse when Lupin, looking as though he hadn't slept a wink, padded through the door and fixed the already-fragile witch with a look so full of pain that she ended up excusing herself and fleeing once more to the safety of her room.
Having gotten permission from Mr. Weasley to take a few days off to pack and settle into her new house, Hermione had sat alone in her room for several minutes after breakfast deciding whether she could go to work regardless just to get away from the house. Tonks and Luna made the decision for her, showing up with broad smiles and offering their help in the packing process. Hermione had a feeling their presence had more to do with Ginny's discreet request that Hermione not be left alone than an altruistic urge to assist in the mundane action, though she enjoyed the company nonetheless. It had been a long time since she had just 'hung out' with her girlfriends and she found that she definitely missed the easy conspiracy of it. There were some things she just couldn't talk about with the boys.
Since it seemed like Sirius had not returned to Grimmauld Place the night before and Ginny had returned to the house in a horrible mood because her practice hadn't gone too well, Tonks and Luna took Hermione out to lunch in Muggle London. Ginny, calmed slightly, joined them after for an afternoon of window shopping for furniture. Though Hermione still carried Sirius's Gringott's card, she refused to use it to purchase anything until she had had the opportunity to talk to her elusive fiancé.
She had hoped that opportunity would present itself later that night, but once they had walked into Grimmauld Place, they found it once-again deserted except for Lupin, who was sitting by himself in the library. When Hermione asked about Sirius's whereabouts, the werewolf had snapped that Sirius had returned to the house, showered, changed, and then left again. Lupin had then stormed out of the library, murmuring something that sounded eerily like 'Not a bloody baby-sitter' before stalking up the stairs to the attic to await the full moon, leaving three stunned witches and one extremely guilty brunette gaping at the usually mild-mannered Marauder's behavior.
Not in the mood to discuss yet another frustrating aspect of her ever-complicating love life, Hermione had bid her friends good-night and for the second evening in a row, went up to her room without eating supper.
Despite her hunger when she had woken that morning, Hermione didn't dare go down for breakfast. So when a beautiful tawny owl had finally tapped on her window with paperwork and keys to her house, Hermione had grabbed Ginny and immediately apparated them to Bloomsbury before the redheaded witch had had time to breathe.
Standing now in what would eventually be her and Sirius's bedroom, Hermione heard her stomach give a protesting rumble before shooting a dull ache through her nerves. She sighed. Perhaps she and Ginny could grab a mid-morning coffee before the younger witch disappeared to finalize plans for Hermione's hen party that Friday.
"Well, I gotta hand it to Dumbledore – the man certainly had style," Ginny said, coming out of the bathroom. "I can't wait to see the house in Godric's Hollow."
They headed back down the staircase, discussing possible locations for Hermione's much-needed sustenance, when a soft groan emanated from one of the closed doors. Rapidly drawing their wands, the two witches made their way stealthily towards the study. Opening the door cautiously, Hermione immediately lowered her wand at the sight before her.
Sirius, topless in a pair of low-cut jeans, was tossing and turning on a bed of transfigured blankets. His brow was furrowed and his hair fell lightly over his eyes as his limbs lashed out at invisible enemies. There was a thin sheen of sweat on his body and by the looks of the tangled bedclothes, he had been tossing and turning most of the night.
Immediately forgetting the discomfort in her stomach, Hermione rushed over to him, kneeling next to his body, and putting a comforting hand on his forehead. He groaned again, but seemed to calm slightly under his touch.
"What in Merlin's name is he doing here?" Ginny asked quietly from behind Hermione as the brunette wedged herself between the wizard in her arms and the wall, Sirius's upper body resting in her lap as she gently pushed his hair out of his face and stroked his forehead soothingly. Looking around, she saw empty firewhiskey bottles and wrinkled bags of crisps, and a strong pang of guilt shot through her heart. It seemed that in his eagerness to avoid her, Sirius had reverted back to the scavenging lifestyle he had had while on the run.
"I think he's been sleeping here these past two nights," Hermione said, glancing up at her confused friend. "Instead of coming back to Grimmauld Place."
"But why?"
"I assume it's to avoid me."
"But…'Mione, what happened?"
Sighing, Hermione admitted the events of the past Sunday and the silence that seemed to spring up once the two had returned to Grimmauld Place. Hermione didn't mention the fact that her refusal to talk about the kiss they had shared was more out of self-preservation on her end than actual apathy. The kiss had been amazing – she knew they had both felt the sparks of chemistry that had passed between them – and she wanted to minimize it before he had a chance to. It was becoming harder and harder to avoid the growing affection she had for Sirius, and she feared Lupin's assessment that Sirius was the one she truly wanted.
The wizard in question had calmed significantly in her arms and from the sound of his deep breathing, he had fallen into the deep sleep that seemed to have eluded him most of the night. She ran her fingers absently through his hair, marveling at the softness before once more smoothing it gently from his forehead where it seemed set on falling. Like Lupin, Sirius looked much younger in his sleep, and Hermione briefly hoped that he would remain that way long enough for her to forget the haunted look that sometimes filled his eyes.
"Well…what about the kiss would have made him avoid you?" Ginny asked, drawing Hermione's attention away from Sirius's angled good looks.
"It was pretty passionate," Hermione admitted. "And very…intimate. I think that scared him more than anything else. He's like me. He doesn't do well with emotional attachment."
"Sure, but…well...you two are getting married. That's pretty much the ultimate emotional attachment."
"Not with us, Ginny. Plus, I can't even begin to tell you how awkward this whole situation has been. For years we've known each other as friends, or worse, he's seen me as his godson's best friend. Sure, we tease each other but having a private snog is a far cry from the gentle taunts we give each other. Now, I don't deny that I appreciate his attractive attributes – he's smart and kind and I won't pretend he's not sinfully gorgeous – but no offense to him, he's hardly my ideal husband."
"None taken, kitten," Sirius's deep voice grumbled from her lap and Hermione jumped as he opened his sleepy eyes to look up at her.
"You heard us?" she asked, slightly horrified that he had heard her speaking so candidly about him.
"Hmm…hard not to. Ever heard of whispering?" he asked, stretching out his long limbs and Hermione smiled slightly as she caught Ginny's blushing gaze at Sirius's well-formed body.
"We didn't mean to wake you up," Hermione said apologetically, feeling him relax comfortably against her body.
"No, I should get up anyway and what better alarm clock than two beautiful ladies?" he said with a cavalier smirk. "Plus, it's always nice to get an uncensored peek into the female mind." He grinned up at Hermione, the mischief slowly returning to his gray-green eyes. "Sinfully gorgeous, eh? That's an ego-boost."
She rolled her eyes and swatted him playfully on the shoulder.
"As if you need any more of an ego-boost."
He chuckled before groaning slightly and running his hand over his face.
"Neither of you happen to have any hangover potion, do you? I drank entirely more than I should have last night."
Hermione shook her head.
"I grabbed Ginny and dashed out the door so quickly, it's a wonder I remembered my purse," she said.
"I'll go get you some water," Ginny said before getting up and walking quickly out of the room.
Sirius arched an eyebrow.
"She does know she can just conjure that up, right?" he asked.
Hermione chuckled.
"I think she just needed to…er…cool off because you're bloody cute when you're all sleep-tousled. And don't say it, I know you know you're adorable."
He chuckled softly before looking up into her eyes again.
"I know it might seem that way, but I actually haven't been avoiding you," he said.
"No?" she asked, affectionately tucking a strand of his hair behind his ear.
He shook his head, effectively releasing the strand she had just pushed back.
"No. I've been avoiding Harry."
Hermione frowned.
"Harry? But…" Then she remembered the Sirius had taken Harry out the night before last, and her eyes narrowed. "You two didn't fight, did you?"
"We did," he said heavily. "It didn't end well."
She sighed.
"Well, I suppose that explains why he was so foul at breakfast yesterday morning." She looked down at Sirius. "Do you want to talk about it?"
He shrugged.
"Not much to tell, really. He was in a bad mood to begin with and when I tried to talk about what had happened I think I just made him worse. We argued about you, and Remus, and it all snowballed a bit out of control. We both said some things… I suppose I just didn't want to go back to the house until I'd cooled off. I only went back yesterday because I knew Harry would be at work."
"Must've been quite a row if it's been two days and you're still not home."
"I suppose it's harder when the person you're angry at is also someone you love deeply."
Hermione nodded in agreement but didn't say anything.
Sighing, Sirius sat up and turned to face her.
"Listen, kitten, about the kiss…"
"Sirius, you don't have to…"
"Shut up a minute, will you?" he said with a slight smile. "God, woman, it's amazing anyone else can get a word in edgewise sometimes."
She pouted slightly but let him continue.
"That day," he said. "You caught me off guard a bit, but we can't simply ignore that intimacy you mentioned."
"Yes, that's true enough, I suppose," she replied.
"I understand we got caught up in the moment. The prospect of owning this house was exciting, but that doesn't take away the fact that we left ourselves quite open to each other."
"I agree," Hermione said, an idea that had been stirring in her mind for the past forty-eight hours spilling to her consciousness. "That's why I propose we don't do it again. Ever."
He blinked.
"Don't…what? Kiss?"
"Not in that way. Obviously, being married, we won't be able to avoid it entirely, but a passionate snog like that can lead to…well…dangerous places."
"So you're suggesting that we just…not kiss. At all?"
"Yes."
"And during sex?"
She shot him a wry smile.
"I'm sure you've shagged without kissing on the lips, Sirius."
He remained silent as she watched him, trying to gauge his reaction as she ran over the proposal in her own head. Despite her bravado, Hermione hadn't actually shagged without kissing on the lips. It had always seemed like a natural part of the sex process. Even particularly heated encounters – like the ill-advised liaison in the changing room – involved some kissing. Hermione wondered briefly if things would have been easier and less emotional if she had removed that aspect from her sex life.
That line of thinking sent her brain straight to Lupin. He had looked so hurt and angry the night before at the mere mention of Sirius. She knew a lot of it had been the approaching full moon raking on his nerves but it didn't stop her from knowing their relationship would be very strained for a very long time.
Despite that, she had still left a bar of chocolate on his pillow that morning as she had done for years.
"I've become very partial to this room," Sirius's voice mused, breaking Hermione from her reverie to see him looking around. "Do you mind terribly if I claim it as my office?"
Hermione arched an eyebrow.
"Your office?"
He smiled.
"With you at work, someone's going to have to run this household. Especially if you're planning on turning it into a revolving bed and breakfast ala Hogwarts."
She smirked.
"So this will be where guests come to call on the lady of the house?"
He poked her lightly.
"Watch it, little witch," he said, his growl full of playful warning. "You'll learn soon enough how much of a man I am."
"Sorry it took me so long," Ginny said loudly from the door, effectively pausing what promised to be an interesting banter of innuendo. "I realized you didn't have any glasses here so I just popped back home for that hangover potion."
She handed Sirius a vial and he downed it gratefully.
"Cheers, Gin," he said with a lopsided smile, handing the vial back to her.
She nodded.
"No problem. Now, I've got to go. Lots to do before practice."
"You've been practicing for weeks now. When's your first actual match?" Hermione asked as Ginny tucked the vial in her pocket.
"The day after your wedding. Harpies versus Cannons. Ron's beside himself. Wants to know all our secrets."
As she said this, Ginny rolled her eyes. They all knew that even if Ron's blessed Chudley Cannons did manage to learn the tactics of Ginny's Holyhead Harpies, they would still be outmatched in skill and speed.
"One day Ron will realize that the reason for the Cannons' horrible record is the Cannons themselves and not a general Quidditch Conspiracy," Hermione said with a smile.
"So true. Will you be coming to the game?" Ginny asked.
"Can't," Sirius answered before Hermione could say anything. "Honeymoon."
Hermione smiled mildly.
"You're going on a honeymoon?" she asked in amusement. "With whom?"
He chuckled, standing and grabbing his t-shirt as Hermione stretched her legs out.
"With you, you silly swot."
"I have to work, Sirius."
"Arthur's already given you time off. Come on, love, Kingsley said we needed to act like this is real. Real couples have honeymoons, right Ginger?" he asked Ginny, who flushed slightly at the nickname.
"Yes," she said. "Harry and I are going to Sydney for two weeks and Ron's taking Luna to Greece."
"Alright," Hermione acquiesced. "And where are we going, husband?"
His grin broadened.
"It's a surprise, kitten."
"Oh no you don't," she said, giving him with a pointed look. "I'm not going to let you whisk me away to parts unknown just because you can."
He gave her an innocent look.
"Now Hermione, you couldn't possibly think I would take you somewhere horrible, could you?"
"Wipe that angelic look off your face, Mr. Black, because I know very well that you would take me to Timbuktu if you thought it was worth a laugh."
Sirius chuckled slightly.
"Where's your sense of adventure, love?"
"Restricted only to the bedroom."
He smirked slightly as he arched an eyebrow.
"I don't see why we can't have both."
Hermione rolled her eyes as Ginny blushed at the exchange.
"I should go," she mumbled. "Gotta drop off the deposit for your party venue."
"Do you need any money, Gin? I know it's my party but…" Hermione started but Ginny waved her hand dismissively.
"Tonks and I have got it covered. Plus, you're gonna be shelling out the galleons for mine."
Hermione smirked slightly. Ginny's hen party was going to take place two weeks after Hermione's wedding. She and Tonks had spent several hours discussing possible plans, each seeming as inadequate as the next. They both knew that, when it came to Ginny, the wild witch deserved more than just a mere party. So, the two and Luna had decided to whisk the young redhead away fro a weekend in Monte Carlo for gambling and a pre-winter frolic.
"Uh-oh…I know that look. What are you and Tonks planning?" Ginny asked, her eyes narrowing as she saw Hermione's smirk get wider.
"Trust me, Ginger, with a look like that, I think it's better not to ask," Sirius said with a laugh.
Ginny shook her head with a smile.
"I'm just going to have to make your hen party even more spectacular now."
"Good luck," Hermione said, slightly smug.
Ginny rolled her eyes at Sirius.
"Just so you know, be careful with her. Don't let her win too many arguments because she's absolutely unbearable when she's smug."
Sirius laughed as Hermione glared, knowing fully that those words were exactly the words she had used to describe her mother. Crossing her arms, she fixed Ginny with the sternest look she could muster.
"Please make sure you owl all relevant information to Alexandra," she said, knowing that the dose of reality would take her friend down a peg or two. "And you know that includes place and time."
Ginny sighed.
"Fine. But if she shows up…"
"Trust me, she won't. She's already told me several times how much she disapproves the idea in the first place."
Ginny muttered something that included the words 'uptight' and 'good shag' before she glanced at her watch.
"Right. I'm going to leave for real now. Don't ask me questions or distract me."
Hermione and Sirius laughed and Sirius extended his arm.
"I'll walk you out," he said.
Hermione watched them walk towards the door, Sirius's head bent low as he discussed something with Ginny. She sighed, yawning slightly as she realized she might pass out if she didn't get some food soon. She wondered if Sirius wanted to join her for a meal. From the looks of things, he hadn't been eating too well either.
Thinking of Sirius, Hermione's traitorous mind went back to the proposal she had set forth to him. She wondered if they could do it – go for a full lifetime without kissing – and found herself wishing she had had more experience with being callous and unfeeling. She would be the last person to say that she cared too much, especially involving the men that she slept with, but at the same time she was no where near Sirius's level of general indifference towards the women he had slept with.
"Whatcha thinking about?" Sirius asked in a childlike way as he came back into the room.
She smiled slightly.
"Just…life."
He nodded solemnly.
"Heavy stuff, that."
She laughed.
"You should see me when I'm high. Ron says I could solve all the world's problems when I'm high, if only there was someone sober around to record it."
Sirius smirked.
"That is a useful bit of information."
"What? That I could solve the world's problems?"
"No," he said with a wicked grin. "That you get high."
"On occasion, Sirius. It is by far a rare occurrence."
"Doesn't stop it from being an occurrence nonetheless."
She chuckled slightly.
"Being married to you, I daresay I may need a joint or two to stop myself from killing you."
"Oh, you know me, love. I'll just come right back to life again."
She laughed but it turned into a groan as her stomach roared its displeasure.
Sirius chuckled.
"C'mon, kitten, let's go get some food. Give us a chance to explore the new neighborhood."
Delighted by the suggestion, Hermione hurtled to her feet enthusiastically. Her brain, however, seemed to move slightly slower than her body and she lost her balance as she tripped over the strewn blankets. With his quick reflexes, Sirius caught her before she could hit the ground.
"Now, I've heard I have the ability to sweep women off their feet, kitten, but I hardly think it's necessary to take it quiet so literally," he joked as she straightened up.
"Oh, shut up, you great prat," she said, smacking him soundly.
He sniffed with an air of over-dramatized indignation.
"Just for that, you're paying for lunch," he said, turning to walk out the door.
Hermione smirked.
"That's alright," she said as she followed. "My fiancé gave me his credit card."
She grinned brilliantly as he spun around in surprise and flounced past him out of the room.