Hermione was down in the shop with Sirius sitting next to her as a dog on the floor. He watched her place a new shipment of books on the shelf and remained her silent companion. There was something so relieving about it. Crookshanks was looking out the window at the birds, and Hermione even noticed he seemed less on guard with Sirius's presence.
"You know, when I first started this shop, I was convinced it was a poor decision. I was going to end up in destitute and alone," Hermione remarked as she finished filling the shelf.
Sirius cocked his head at her and traveled behind her as she crossed the room. He was her shadow and part of Hermione really appreciated his company like this. She loved Sirius's vocal playfulness and even his sass, but this was something she cherished. That was something she was quite sure that Remus loved about him as well. He could flex to any portion of need.
"Sirius, do you fancy Remus?" Hermione asked him as she turned to the dog.
The large canine snorted and tossed his head in reply. That would be a resounding negative.
"Well, how close are you both really? I know there's a piece of you that is causing you to linger. Not just for me but for him as well. Why?" Hermione inquired as she bent down to be eye-level with the animagus formed.
Sirius turned back into himself and sat cross-legged in front of her. "You really want to know?" he spoke with a soft tone.
Hermione nodded and stared into his stormy eyes. "I think it would help me understand what this is."
"I'm doing this because you are bloody insane and lovely and far more amazing than you give yourself credit for. If I were the only one brought back I would be a greedy sod and keep you for myself, but that isn't the case," Sirius responded with a wolfish grin.
She swiveled her eyes toward the ceiling and shook her head. "You wouldn't last, Padfoot. Your stay power has only been dedicated to your marauders."
His hand caressed her cheek, and she felt a blush creep up on her as his expression grew stern. "I don't think you understand just how much of a gravitational pull you have over people. You spend your time pushing them away because of moments like last night. I'm not going anywhere, love. A bit of tears and terror aren't scary to me. I had plenty of myself when I got out of Azkaban. We're both wounded, but that just shows you how deeply we can love." He finished, and a small tear escaped her right eye.
"Is that why you struggle with intimacy as well, Sirius?"
He bobbed his head and exhaled. "That is exactly why. How do you explain the need of a broken soul? It is in our weakness that our strength is found. You can only identify a silent cry for hope when you have been there yourself. Is that why you helped all those werewolves?" he voiced, wiping the tear trail from her rosy cheek.
"Yes."
He bent toward her and kissed her lips tenderly. "You're stronger than you believe, Hermione," he whispered against her skin and pulled away.
The bell rang above the door which was odd because Hermione left the sign on closed. "Hello?" A gentle male voice called out from the front of the shop.
Soft pattering on the floor grew louder as a teal blur zipped around the corner and tackled the witch to the ground. "Hermione! Oh, I have missed you!" Teddy shouted as he squeezed her.
Hermione gasped and started kissing the pre-teen. "My Teddy Bear! Oh, where have you been?" she responded through her attack.
He giggled and parted from her only to smirk. "Grandmother was helping me get ready for Hogwarts this year. I bought a broom and tons of books. My dad is back, did you know that?" he spoke with a speed of happy urgency.
She caressed his cheeks and motioned agreement. "I do. Isn't that just wonderful? I'm so happy."
"Hello, my darling," Andromeda declared as she walked around the bookcase. "I hope you're not too occupied," she said while examining the male animagus on the floor.
"No, of course not," Hermione huffed as she stood up. "Sirius was just keeping me company as I did inventory while I waited for you."
Another form appeared next to her and Hermione's blood ran cold. "I hope you don't mind me joining in today," Remus mumbled, rubbing fingers against his chin.
Andromeda rolled her eyes and waved a finger. "Honestly, Remus, I insisted you spend time with us. Teddy would have it no other way, and it'll be fantastic to have a day out."
Hermione glanced at Sirius who shrugged his shoulders. "I have to go visit with the Potters before dinner tonight at the Burrow."
Teddy gasped and clapped. "Uncle Sirius, can I come too?"
Hermione winced as Andromeda laughed; she was going to do exactly what Hermione had secretly been dreading. "Yes, we should all go. It would be a fantastic way to celebrate everyone's homecoming." Andromeda said with a smile. "Hermione, lovely, we should see if Molly needs anything in regards to dinner."
"Of course, Drom," Hermione sighed and hugged the older witch.
"Oh, my darling, I missed you. We need to not go this long without seeing each other," Andromeda murmured and kissed her cheek. "This girl has been like a daughter to me. She practically raised your son. You can blame his keen love for learning on her," She told Remus as Hermione was hugging her.
Hermione pulled away and hid her blush within her curls. "Drom, don't honey the past," she fussed and ruffled Teddy's hair. "Come on, let's get ready to go to London."
The bell jingled again, and Sirius hid a smile as a blond child skipped around the corner. "Scorpius!" Draco hissed as he raced into the group. "Oh, good morning," he announced with wide eyes.
Scorpius lunged at Hermione, and she caught him in a hug. "Hermione! We are coming too! Dad said we're going to buy pretty things for your shop." He exclaimed as the boy bounced in her grip.
It was strange. Hermione glimpsed between the werewolves, and they seemed rather pestered with the turn of events. However, Sirius was grinning like the Cheshire cat. He was amused that not only was Remus invited along, but Hermione had invited Draco just last night. It was bloody fantastic and going to either be enlightening or a complete mess.
Andromeda flickered her vision from the small blond child Hermione was holding to Draco. "You are friends with Hermione now? When did that come about?" Andromeda snapped, her gaze was scrutinizing.
Draco shrugged his shoulders and patted Remus's back a bit roughly. "When I was turned into a werewolf and ran to her for help. I wouldn't have ended up bringing Remus back if she hadn't brought me to Grimmauld Place for the last full moon." He confessed as Remus edged away from Draco.
Teddy turned rapidly toward the tall werewolf. "You brought my dad back?" he questioned with wide eyes.
Draco nodded and bent to the boy. "I did. I knew he was the only one who could help me when Hermione couldn't answer a question about my condition," he said with a smile.
Teddy rushed forward and hugged Draco, catching the young werewolf entirely off guard. "Thank you! Thank you so much," he whispered as his teal hair faded to bright pink.
That softened Hermione's anxiety, and she smirked at Scorpius. "I have a delightful idea. What if you and your dad came with me tonight," Hermione said with a curve to her lips.
Scorpius arched an eyebrow at her, and it held nuisances of his father as a child. "Hermione, where are you going?"
Andromeda motioned agreement. "That would be delightful. Considering he did bring the whole lot of them back," she responded as she turned to her cousin climbing from the floor.
"Don't give me that look, Drom. I will soften Molly to the idea. Family is family. I don't know if I can convince Snivellus, but I will see if my brother will join as well."
Remus hemmed as he stood straighter. "Do you really think this is a good idea, Pads? That is quite a few werewolves in a loud environment."
"Wait, where are you all going?" Draco asked as Teddy joined Scorpius when Hermione set him down.
"To the Burrow. We are celebrating the twins' birthday," Hermione declared with thinned lips.
Sirius leaned to Hermione and whispered something in her ears that only the two werewolves could hear aside from her. "Maybe you could give them a big ole kiss for their birthday," He teased, and Hermione shoved him with a groan.
"Don't you even dare convince them of that, Sirius. I will hex your hair to turn grey," she retorted with a scowl.
"You bloody love me," he hissed, straightening his coat.
Hermione nodded and sighed. "Yes, unfortunately, I can't change that. Now, please remember to behave and keep them in line. I have a feeling they're going to talk George into pulling pranks all night."
Sirius kissed her temple and nodded. "Yes, yes, love. I'll hold down the fort so you can yell at them later," he snickered and waved at the group. "Have a great day; I'll see you all tonight."
Sirius strolled out of view, and the bell went off, announcing his departure. Andromeda turned to the children who were watching the adults. "Teddy, go show Scorpius where to get cleaned up for London and change your clothing. Hurry now," she ordered, and Teddy motioned agreement.
"Come on, Scorp. Hermione has a whole dresser for my things when I spend the night. I have some old muggle clothes you can borrow." Teddy declared as the children went off together up to the room.
She waited for the children to enter the flat up top before glaring at Hermione. "Drom, please don't ask," Hermione groaned, walking past her.
Draco glanced at his aunt who was frowning at the curly-haired witch walking away. "What's wrong now?"
"She's upset Sirius was flirting with her," Remus suggested with a shrug of his shoulders. "Andromeda, it is her choice."
Hermione let loose another audible groan. "Please, can we just not talk about this?"
"When did that happen?" Andromeda whispered to Remus.
"When she chose it," Remus responded with a scrunched nose.
Draco glanced around the bookcase at the witch shutting the blinds on the windows. "It isn't like she doesn't make her own choices," he said turning back to them.
Andromeda pouted and exhaled. "I was only hoping that, well, you're back now Remus. No one else had missed you more than that witch. I suppose I was wrong to play with the idea," She indicated with a frown.
Remus's eyebrows rose to his hairline as he spoke. "Andromeda, are you suggesting that she and I would be a good match?"
The older witch waved him off as Hermione approached again. "So, I'm actually surprised you came, Draco," Hermione said while smirking.
"You must be joking, Granger. An excuse to go spend exuberant amounts of my wealth on someone else is a fetish of mine," He taunted while rolling his eyes. "I would have thought you knew that."
"Well, spend it on your son, I don't need your blood money, Malfoy," she responded with a grin.
Andromeda ran her fingers along the long coat she was wearing. "Hermione, you have gathered quite a few new friends since last we chatted. Had I known you were spending time with my nephew, I would have brought Teddy over for tea so he could spend time with Scorpius." It was an olive branch, and Draco felt relief.
"I don't think my mother would be joining us any time soon; she is utterly torn at the idea that I am dating Hermione. It is all false, of course, to cover my condition, but I know she regrets not mending fences with you, Aunt," Draco said with a nod.
Andromeda sighed heavily and bobbed her head. "It's a shame. Forgiveness can only be given to those that seek it. You have falsified a relationship with Hermione to cover up your condition? Lucius must be raving mad," the older witch remarked with a grimace.
The loud thumping of feet on stairs proclaimed the arrival of the children and Teddy waved as he came down first. "Hermione, can you fix Scorpius's pants? They're too big," he declared as the blond child came into view holding up a large pair of jeans so they wouldn't fall.
Hermione stifled a laugh and approached the disgruntled child. "Not to worry, I can fix it," she affirmed pulling out her wand.
Swishing her wand in the air, the jeans shrunk snuggly around the boy, and he grinned at her. "Thank you," Scorpius responded.
She ran a hand over his shoulder and admired the boy in a t-shirt with superheroes across the front. "You look very handsome, Scorpius. I'm glad Teddy found something nice for you."
Draco watched on and didn't realize his face mirrored the awe and consternation of the man standing next to him. It was indeed the first time either of them really saw her nurturing their children. Not polite or out of hospitality, it was this warm wave of sweet maternal scent that filled the air.
"Come along, let's get going before the day runs long," Andromeda declared, bringing the werewolves from their stupor.
Hermione kissed Teddy's forehead, and Scorpius took her hand as they joined the group. "Let's go to London," she said with a nod.
They had stopped in a few shops in the mall, but mostly Draco noticed that it was just about spending time together. Hermione had spent quite a bit of money on buying Teddy clothes, books, and even a few muggle knickknacks. However, it shocked him when she slipped in items for Scorpius. She knew Draco had more than enough currency changed out for muggle money, but she still persisted.
Draco wasn't going to be outdone. It wasn't going to happen that he was going to allow the witch to spend her hard-earned money on them. Pointing a finger to a feminine clothing store he hemmed. "Granger, go pick out something nice for tonight; I'm buying something for you."
Her face dropped, and she nearly fell from stopping in her tracks. "What?" she questioned.
Teddy glanced up at the witch and back down at his new relative. "I think your dad is going to get slapped," he whispered to the blond boy.
"I'm not because Hermione is going to listen for once. I don't think I need to repeat myself do I?" Draco said with a stern stare.
She let the blond child's hand go as she glowered at his father. "Draco, you are not buying me clothes."
"I am, now hurry up. We don't have all day, and I would like to see you try it on before I buy it for you," he teased as he closed the distance between them.
Hermione moaned and turned to the children, handing Teddy a small black pouch. "Give that to your dad and see if he'll buy you and Scorpius lunch. We will meet you in the food court." She declared with a bob of her head.
Teddy looked over at his father and grandmother who were closing in on them. "Okay," he replied with a frown.
"Don't fret, lovely. I won't be gone long. You and Scorpius will be bored; it's a shop for girls," Hermione voiced with a silly face.
The boys just nodded and walked over to the approaching adults as Hermione took Draco's hand and dragged him toward the designer store. Remus frowned down at the children and up at the retreating pair with a figurative question mark above his head. Teddy shrugged his shoulders and pointed at the store.
"Draco said he was buying a dress for Hermione and wouldn't let her say no. Hermione said we should get lunch," Teddy announced with a scrunched nose.
Scorpius nodded as he pointed at the store to mirror Teddy. "Mhm, dad said he wanted to get Hermione a pretty dress."
"Let's get lunch," Remus huffed, waving the children forward.
Andromeda's brows inched toward her dark curly hair. "Well, that's an interesting turn of events. Do you think she fancies him a bit?" she asked Remus as they walked with the children in front of them.
Remus exhaled and rolled his shoulders. "I don't know. I haven't asked her."
"Ginevra told me an interesting tale," Andromeda voiced, tucking her arm around Remus's. "Did you know that Hermione debated naming the shop after you?"
Remus tilted his head and shifted his eyes in her direction. "And why would that be?"
"Remus, my wonderful son-in-law, you must know why," Andromeda sighed, squeezing his arm affectionately. "That girl might have only crushed on you from afar before, but it is quite tangible now. If you need permission, you have it. I'm quite sure Dora would have wanted you to seek happiness. You would have if the roles were reversed."
They got to the food court and retrieved food before settling in at a table. Remus wasn't sure he wanted to admit that Hermione Granger would have ever thought of him beyond a respectable professor. If she had, and now that age was not a line never to be crossed, what would that mean?
Andromeda shifted in the chair next to Scorpius and arched an eyebrow at Remus. "I didn't just invite you to enjoy the busy life of London. I wanted you to open your eyes. However, I wasn't prepared to see Sirius so connected to her. It was very unexpected to see her grow close to anyone. After she severed ties to Ronald, she had not been attached," the witch declared as she moved her plastic fork on her plate.
"That's my fault; I told him to take care of her. We have quite a bit happening with all the werewolves and such," Remus grumbled as he listened to the conversation of Teddy telling Scorpius about Hogwarts.
"There's a giant squid, and even ghosts," Teddy murmured between bites.
Andromeda leaned forward, and her voice dropped low. "What does she have to do with that?" she breathed.
Remus let out a large breath, tracing a circle over the table. "More than I care to talk about. It is difficult. She didn't craft or cast the spell but had unintentionally been a part of it. I spoke to Kingsley at length about it the other day. As much as he had gathered on the spell Draco used, it wasn't designed the way he used it. If it weren't for the items he used and his intentions, we wouldn't have reappeared. This has his unbreakables in quite the tizzy over it." Remus finished, hoping Andromeda would let go fo the subject of Hermione.
"Can you just do me a large favor. As a witch who lost her only child and espoused one who needed me… do what you can to take care of her, Remus. I trust your judgments and know that you won't alienate her for the hardships she lives through," Andromeda sighed, taking his hand in hers.
"What difficulties?" Remus whispered.
Andromeda grimaced and squeezed his fingers. "She still fights monsters long since put to rest. That was a bulk of the reason why her relationship with the Weasley boy ended."
"Are you talking about the scars the evil werewolf gave Hermione?" Scorpius asked.
Both children were looking at Andromeda who nodded. "Yes, Scorpius. Did Hermione tell you about them?"
He shook his head and swallowed the bit of food he was chewing. "My dad did. He said she doesn't think she's pretty because of them. I think she's pretty," he mused with a tilt of his head.
"Quite perceptive," Remus said with a smile. "She is quite lovely."
Teddy bobbed his head and sighed. "I love Hermione so much. I wish she would come to see me more."
Remus ruffled his hair with a grin and admired the replicated hair color of his own on his son. "Well, she will when you come home for break. I will make sure of it."
"Thanks, dad," Teddy murmured and hugged the werewolf.
Andromeda released the werewolf's hand, and her lips curled. "That's all I can ask for. My family is happy."
Hermione was at wit's end as she struggled with the violet dress that Draco picked out. It was different than her usual attire, and the fabric spoke of expensive as she ran her fingers over it. There was a knock at the fitting room door, and she squeaked. "Don't come in; I'm still working on it."
The door unlatched, and she groaned as Draco appeared in the mirror. He shut the door behind him and snorted before reaching over and helping her zip up the dress. "There, it's on. I have to say; I like this one plenty," he purred with a grin.
"I could have been down to my knickers. You didn't ask, again," Hermione grumbled, situating herself in the dress.
The blond werewolf walked behind her and smelt her hair as his fingers ran over her sides. "I'm sorry, I'm impatient."
Since her night with Sirius, she had noticed a difference in how she reacted to touches. Mainly, how her body responded to them. It was as if he opened the floodgate and she was beside herself in trying to house the feelings of craving more. Draco's attention was doing her no justice as her abdomen knotted in anticipation.
"Please stop," she implored, gently removing his fingers.
"My apologies, you just look so delicious in this dress. This is the one. Even if you don't wear it tonight, you are taking this one home. I could almost bite you, you look so bloody edible," Draco grumbled, his nose fixated on her scent in the small dressing room.
She adjusted the skirt of the dress and turned slowly while gazing in the mirror. It was a lovely dress. Strapless, form-hugging with an airy skirt to contrast the bodice. His tastes were actually quite pleasant. Hermione glanced up at the near drooling werewolf. "Draco, I will let you buy this for me under one stipulation," she declared with an arched eyebrow.
"Yes, Granger?"
"You are not going to buy me anything else," she said with a stern expression.
"Deal," he groaned, but his fingers went to her cheek. "But you have to do one more thing."
"What?" she huffed, placing her hands on her hips.
"Let me kiss you?" he asked.
Hermione's lips parted as she released her defensive posture. She motioned agreement, and he pressed her to the nearby wall, ravaging her mouth. It was sensual and absolutely primal. Hermione moaned in his mouth, and he noticed this time there wasn't any of that grimy negative emotions. The animagus wanted him to kiss her. She also was advertising how much she enjoyed it when her legs wrapped around his hips as she pulled herself closer to him.
Draco wasn't thinking at this point. The silvery wolf had pushed the man aside and made the decision for him. His zipper sounded as he maneuvered her in his arms and she moaned as he pressed against her covered core. It was going to be a sudden fuck in a dressing room in London. Bloody fucking hell.
A knock at the door caused the couple to shudder. "Just checking on you both," the sound of the worker's voice came from the other side. "We don't want to have to clean up any… messes," she mumbled.
Hermione panted quietly and spoke. "We will be out momentarily."
Draco shook from his lupine lust driven state and set her down. "Well," he hemmed, adjusting his trousers. "I apologize," he murmured, choking on a laugh.
Hermione waved it off and pointed to the back of the dress. "Hurry, unzip me so you can leave and we can get out of here before we both make another snappy decision. I'd rather not shag you in the fitting room, Draco," she sighed, rosy cheeks announcing her mortification.
"But you wouldn't mind shagging me, Granger?" he asked with a wolfish grin.
"Draco, go," she sighed, waving him off. "I'll not have this conversation with you here."
He snorted and unfastened the dress before disappearing. Hermione touched her forehead against the wall and pacified her breathing. What was she doing? Why was that so easy to get lost in it? Too many questions and this was not the venue to dissect them. She shook herself from the moment and poised herself to get ready to rejoin the rest of their group. It was going to be an exciting afternoon, to say the least.