Hello readers dearest!
In interestingish news, in two days it will be the two year anniversary of this story! YAY! Strange to think that two years ago I was spending my last few days in France with my saati (cousin of wonder Gwen. SG) and now she'll be visiting me in the States in a few weeks.
Anyway, I can feel this story coming to an end. Not too soon- I'm planning to go through seven year now, I think- but it's definitely going to pick up the pace. Maybe two or three more chapters for sixth year.
But for now, enjoy!
September 20, 1996
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Corridor
"Lavender! Parvati!" Hermione called, catching up with the two girls.
They stopped and turned to face her in identical motion. "Hey, Hermione," Lavender said nicely enough. "Did you want something?"
Hermione shrugged, and grinned at them. "I wanted to tell the two of you something- come over here." She led them to a small alcove in the corridor, allowing the flood of other students on their way of class to bypass them. "First- thanks for not saying anything about last night."
"You're welcome," Parvati said. "What was that about, anyway?"
"Yesterday was my seventeenth birthday," Hermione said with a large grin. "And I wanted to show the two of you this. I don't want too many people to know, but I figured one of you would notice it sooner or later." Hermione held up her left hand, showing them the ring.
As she had predicted, Lavender and Parvati squealed and hugged Hermione. "Does this mean what I think it means?" asked Lavender excitedly. "Sirius Black?"
"Yes, it does," Hermione answered, giggling like a schoolgirl. "You've kind of watched this develop so I thought you'd want to know." As annoying as the two girls could be sometimes, you didn't live in a dorm with someone for six years without gradually coming to like each other. "Please don't tell anyone."
Lavender and Parvati exchanged glances. "Hermione, we might like gossip but this is kind of serious. We wouldn't-"
"I know you wouldn't really," Hermione said, relieved. "You kept it pretty much under wraps so far."
September 20, 1996
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Gryffindor Common Room
"Harry, can I borrow your Cloak?" Hermione asked, checking her watch.
Harry looked up from the essay he was writing. "I did promise, didn't I?" he mused aloud. "Could you read this over while I go up the dorms and get it?"
She smiled at him. "Of course. Give it here."
It was simple enough to go through the essay (for Slughorn, a rather simple assessment of love potions) and simplicity of subject made it quite easy for Hermione's mind to wander. The topics varied- the mysterious new Potions book Harry had found that made her blood boil with anger, Sirius, the third ingredient for Class B love potions, Sirius, Aragog's illness, Sirius…
Harry bounded down the stairs, slipping a bundle to her. "What's wrong with it?" he asked.
"You should probably switch the second and third paragraphs, and you need to say something about how the Class system sorts love potions, but other than that, your essay is fine," she told him. "Goodnight." She squeezed Harry's hand, waved at Ron and Ginny, and left the Common Room, going up to her dorm. As soon as she was alone, she settled the Cloak around her shoulders and crept back down to the Common Room.
September 20, 1996
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Sirius' Rooms
Hermione whispered the password to the portrait guarding Sirius' rooms. It swung open, squinting at the thin air that had given the password. She slipped inside, only to be met with the end of Sirius' wand.
"It's me, love," she said. "I'm going to take off the cloak, now."
Sirius lowered his wand, grinning as her head appeared from under the Cloak. "I can't count the number of times James and I used that thing," he said, fondness in his voice. "Harry lent it to you?"
"No problems," Hermione said, grinning back. She let her eyes rake over her fiancé's body. Alone, in his rooms, he saw no need for a shirt. With his trousers slung low on his hips and his hair perfect as always, Sirius looked sexy and he knew it. Carefully, she folded the Cloak and set it on the table.
Sirius' rooms were made up of a sitting room, a small kitchenette, a bedroom, and an attached bath. The sitting room was warm and comfortable courtesy of the small fireplace. Two overstuffed armchairs and a small coffee table were in front of the fire; to the side were three large bookcases that obscured the door to the bedroom. The kitchenette was tiny, with a table only just large enough for two people. It was obvious that it wasn't meant to be used for anything other than tea, as the house elves took care of any other meals.
"What do you think?" Sirius asked, gesturing at the space.
Hermione walked over to her fiancé, lightly running a hand down his chest. "It's nice," she decided. "And the bedroom?"
Sirius' eyes darkened, and he stalked toward her. "I can give you a tour, if it pleases you…"
Hermione wound her arms around his neck. "It would indeed."
September 20, 1996
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Sirius' Rooms
The bedroom had large windows, which were letting in just enough moonlight for Sirius to see by. It was far past the middle of the night, the time when the night was still and silent and heavy and Hermione's breathing was the only sign time hadn't stopped.
This bed was different from the one he had at Number 12, Grimmauld Place, it was smaller and softer. Hermione was curled right up against him, her head resting where his arm met his shoulder and her curls spilling onto his chest. The moon had bleached the color from her hair and from his skin, and the contrast of white skin and inky curls was beautiful.
She was breathing softly, appearing completely at peace. He stroked her arm, smiling gently when she got goosebumps. He pulled the blankets up.
Gods, she was beautiful. His. It was surreal, to see her every day at Hogwarts, going from class to class, either laughing with her friends or walking alone with a quill behind her ear and her nose in a book. It made him wonder would have happened if she had been there when he was at Hogwarts.
He could see what would happen as intensely as a memory, rather than simple fantasy. He would have teased her mercilessly, she would have acted like Evans (she had only been 'Lily' to him and James for four years, and she had been 'Evans' for six and even now he called her the name that had tumbled thousands of times rather than hundreds of times from his best friend's lips).
In his head he crafted their love story the way it should have been. She and Evans would have been best friends, or rivals. He was betting on friends, though, because both Hermione and Lily had been nice and kind to a fault. He and James would have won them over eventually. James would have been his best man and Lily Hermione's maid of honor. Harry would have grown up with his and Hermione's children as his playmates and family. He could imagine himself as a youth of seventeen, slinging an arm over Hermione's shoulders in the corridors of Hogwarts, or spelling her tie purple, or trying to sit next to her every day at breakfast.
Hermione would have entranced him at age seventeen. He had been so cocky, so sure of himself, so hurt and proud and abandoned. He had been tossed out of his family, he was watching his little brother go over to the Dark side, he had his best friends and everything was perfect and everything was horrible at the same time. She was perfection, she had always been perfectly put together and perfectly organized and just- Hermione.
He wasn't blind to the other boys at Hogwarts, eyeing his Hermione. She would have stolen his seventeen year old heart. If she so desired, she could crook her finger and half the boys her age at Hogwarts would come running. Suddenly, he was fiercely glad that
For all his musings and imaginations, he had her anyway. It was real, she was living and breathing and sleeping on him, exhausted from the first time they had been allowed to have sex in almost a month.
"I love you," he said aloud. In the stillness of the night, it sounded like a vow.
October 1, 1996
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Corridors
"Sirius!" Harry called, looking around at the empty hallway as he jogged to where Sirius was patrolling. "There you are."
Sirius grinned at his godson, ruffling the boy's hair. "Right here."
Harry grinned back. "I wanted to ask you something."
"Ask away," Sirius said, slinging an arm over Harry's shoulders. "But I'm not telling you where James used to go and snog-"
"I wasn't asking that," Harry said firmly. "Just- can you try to keep an eye on Draco Malfoy? He's up to something, I know it."
Well. That hadn't been what Sirius was expecting. "Hermione said something about that," Sirius said slowly. "She-"
"This isn't about Hermione," said Harry, real irritation in his voice. "This is about me asking you to-"
Sirius held up his hands. "Alright. Sorry, Harry."
Harry sighed. "No- it's just- are you going to the next Hogsmeade weekend? Could we do something, just the two of us?"
Damn it. McGonagall had asked Sirius to take her patrol in the castle, because one of her students had detention. "I can't," Sirius said regretfully. "Minnie wanted me to stay here, and I said yes as a favor to her."
Harry huffed out another sigh. "Fine."
October 19, 1996
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Office of Professor Minerva McGonagall, Transfiguration Mistress
"Sirius," Minerva McGonagall said in greeting, thin voice warm with happiness in seeing him.
Sirius grinned widely and swept an elaborate bow. "Minnie, my darling," he called in a player's voice. "How is it that I have ever survived without seeing your beautiful face-"
A book leapt off the bookcase and thumped him lightly on the back of his head. "Hush, you rogue," McGonagall chastised, blushing faintly. "I swear you haven't matured since 1972."
Throwing one arm over his eyes and clutching his chest with his other hand, Sirius sighed mournfully. "You wound me," he said, making cow eyes at her. "But nevertheless, I shall honor my solemn promise by you and walk you hard path, journeying over-"
This time, McGonagall smacked him with her hand. "The student is here, Mr. Black," she said primly. "And my patrol is hardly arduous. Mr. Malfoy, your detention shall consist of lines and cleaning as you did request that it be held today."
Sirius whirled around, eyes narrowing at the sight of his blond and sneering cousin. (Well, first cousin once removed on the Black side and third cousin twice removed on the other) Why would he want detention on a Hogsmeade weekend?
"And Mr. Black, you should be off. Don't forget to check all the niches behind the tapestries. I'm sure you remember where all of them are." The look McGonagall was giving him over her spectacles made him remember that she had found him in just about every snog spot before (and even after, if he was really distracted) the Marauders' Map had been created.
He saluted her with two fingers. "Off I go, Min," he said, winking cheekily.
October 19, 1996
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Grounds
Hermione had her arms around Leanne, Katie Bell's friend. Her thoughts were scattered, swirling with fear. "It's okay, we'll get her to the Hospital Wing," she kept saying, helping the girl through the sleet. It was cold, freezing even, but her core was number. What was that? Hagrid had gone ahead with Katie, but Hermione couldn't rid herself of the image of the girl, limp as a doll in Hagrid's large arms.
They were nearing the entrance to the school when McGonagall and Sirius came running out, wands in hand. "What happened?" Sirius roared over the storm.
Quickly, Harry and Ron explained as the Professor and Sirius ushered them inside. Once they were free from the sleet and rain, Hermione released Leanne to McGonagall and fell into Sirius' arms. McGonagall gave the two of them a sharp look, but Hermione didn't care.
"You're freezing, love," Sirius whispered, holding her close. She shivered against him. "Are you alright? You didn't touch it, did you?"
Hermione shook her head. "No, no- I'm fine, Sirius." Still, she didn't let go of him.
Harry and Ron were looking on, curious. Sirius sighed, and kissed the top of her head. "Come and find me later, poppet," he told her.
McGonagall had sent Leanne to Madame Pomfrey. "Now, you three. Tell me what happened."
October 19, 1996
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Sirius' Rooms
"It was awful," Hermione whispered, burying her face in Sirius' shoulder. "The entire thing was evil, Sirius."
He stroked her skin gently, comforting her. "I know, love," he said, sadness in his voice. "I think the girl- Bell, wasn't it- will be okay. St. Mungo's is the best."
Hermione sighed, rolling over so she could look at him properly. "Who do you think did it?"
"I don't know," Sirius said, frowning. "Harry thinks it was Draco Malfoy-"
"I know that," Hermione interrupted. "But that's impossible, you heard Professor McGonagall say that Malfoy was in detention."
He tapped her noise, quieting her. His eyes held just a trace of amusement, despite the serious subject. "I also heard her say that Malfoy requested his detention be held yesterday. On a Hogsmeade weekend."
His fiancée frowned at him, and then her eyes grew wide and she collapsed on her back again. Sirius was more than slightly happy that the sheet that had been around the two of them had slipped, revealing her bare breasts. "Oh!"
"Oh! Indeed," Sirius said, nodding. "Why would he want detention on a Hogsmeade weekend?"
Hermione chewed viciously on the right corner of her lower lip. "Well…" she said, drawing the word out. "Many of the older years grow bored with Hogsmeade once they've been a quite a few times, and it was quite horrible and blustery…but…"
"But?" Sirius prompted.
Hermione groaned, and put her arm over her eyes. "This sucks. It means that he knew what was happening and made sure he'd be in detention so he would have an alibi, or it is pure coincidence. And if he knew what was happening, its either because he was the one who planned it, or he knows who did."
"And I doubt this is just a coincidence," Sirius said grimly, forgetting about Hermione's breasts for a moment. "But I haven't told Harry, yet."
"I wouldn't, either," Hermione agreed. "Not until there's more proof."
October 20, 1996
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Sirius' Rooms
"Are you going to be at Slughorn's Christmas party?" Hermione asked drowsily, happily excepting a cup of coffee from Sirius, who promptly slid back into their warm bed.
Sirius shrugged, sipping at his own cup. "I suppose," he said. "But it's not for another month, so…"
Hermione wrinkled her nose. "You know, I'd forget by the way everyone's going on about. Only the 'Slug Club' got invitations, and we can bring a plus one. It's absolutely ridiculous the way people are badgering us for invites."
Sirius laughed, kissing her nose. He smelled like coffee and man, making her smile. "Are you going to take anyone? Should I be worried?"
"No," Hermione said, laughing. She sipped at the coffee, savoring the taste. Sirius always got the good ones, and on a cold fall morning, it was perfect. "I was thinking about asking Ron, though."
Now Sirius frowned in earnest. "Really?"
"Yeah," Hermione said, tilting her shoulders. "You know… Harry and I can go, so he feels left out. I'm not interested in going with anyone in a romantic sense, and if I went with anyone else they'd probably see it that way."
"Are you sure Ron won't see it that way?" Sirius asked.
She raised an eyebrow, and held up her left hand, turning it so her engagement ring caught the light. "Remember this? It means-"
He cut her off with a kiss, which Hermione returned gladly. I love the taste of coffee on his mouth, she thought, a drugging happy feeling coming over her. Reluctantly, he pulled away. "I love you."
"I love you too," she said, amused. "So you're okay with it, if I ask Ron to the Christmas party?"
He kissed her again. "I'm fine with it. As long as you emphasize you're taken."
October 31, 1996
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Corridors
Hermione and Sirius met after the feast, Sirius pulling her into a short passage behind a tapestry. She clung to him, stroking the back of his neck and running her fingers through his hair.
"How are you doing, love?" Hermione asked in a low voice, kissing the skin near her mouth.
Sirius let out a great, shuddering breath. "Better, with you in my arms." It wasn't said in a romantic or corny fashion, just a plain admission that having someone to hold made the pain better.
Fifteen years ago, Sirius had lost his friends and his freedom- James and Lily died, Peter was a traitor, Remus refused to see him. He was led off to Azkaban and kept in a dank hole surrounded with Dementors for years. It was understandable that Halloween was a hard day for him.
"Why don't we go to your room?" Hermione whispered, even though they were alone. "I know it's a Thursday, but I also know that my dorm mates won't say anything."
Sirius looked at her, relief in his eyes. "Can we?"
October 31, 1996
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Sirius' Rooms
They went to bed early, but Sirius slept poorly, waking many times during the night shaking and covered in sweat. Hermione held him each time, stroking his hair and using her wand to clean him.
"Shh, love," she whispered. "It's alright."
In rough voice he told her haltingly of schoolboy adventures with James and Remus and Peter, of how adult they all felt joining the Order of the Phoenix, of how determined he had been to protect James and Lily and Harry. How guilty he had felt after he learned they were dead.
Hermione just held him, tears in her eyes, as he talked.
November 5, 1996
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Gryffindor Girls' Dorms
"It was pretty bad," Hermione said into her mirror, to Sirius' sympathetic face. "Ron is furious of course." Earlier that evening, Ron and Harry had come across Dean Thomas snogging Ginny in a secret passage.
Sirius winced. "And you're saying Harry's upset too?"
"I think he's starting to realize that he likes Ginny," Hermione judged. "And Ron's just upset because he hasn't kissed anyone."
"And he's taking it out on everyone?" Sirius guessed, using his experience with the redheaded boy. "Including you?"
Hermione blushed slightly. "He hasn't said anything yet…" she hedged. "But it is starting to feel glaringly obvious that he knows we've had sex. He keeps giving me looks."
In reaction to that, Sirius' face darkened. "Do I need to talk to him?"
"I don't think so, not yet at least," Hermione said. "I think it'll take him a few days to calm down and then he'll be fine."
November 6, 1996
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Gryffindor Common Room
"Good morning, Ron," Hermione ventured cautiously. Ron had just emerged from the staircase that led to the Boy's Dorms, red hair wild and tie askew.
He sneered at her, and didn't answer. Harry stumbled down the stairs after him, giving Hermione a sympathetic looks. 'Sorry,' he mouthed. 'Bad mood.'
Unfortunately, Ron saw it. "What right do you have to say that I'm in-"
"Leave it," Ginny ordered, stalking toward them. "Merlin, Ron, are you still hung up about last night?"
Hermione frowned. "I'm not clear on exactly what happened, you know. Ron, what's-"
"He's mad because I've snogged Dean, and Harry's snogged Cho, and you've snogged Krum and Sirius-"
"She's done a lot more than snog Sirius," Ron said darkly. "And it's not my fault I'm upset if my sister and my friend are acting like sla-" He stopped himself hurriedly.
Ginny looked furious, spots of red burning high on her cheeks, and Hermione felt the same way. "What were you going to say, Ron?" Hermione asked, voice dangerously quiet. "Slatterns?"
When Ron couldn't say anything, looking down and away from them, Hermione linked her arm through Ginny's and began to tow the younger girl away. "I think I'm going to eat with you this morning, Gin, if you don't mind," Hermione said as they left the Common Room.
"Oh, be my guest," Ginny said darkly. "Ron's being an idiot again and I know you're not one to willingly suffer fools."
November 6, 1996
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Sirius' Rooms
"He said what?" Sirius asked, incredulous as he talked to Hermione on their mirrors. "Merlin's baggy white-" he stopped himself. "Merlin," he whispered. "I'm talking to him."
"You are doing no such thing," Hermione informed him. "I'm not talking to Ron, so you aren't either."
Sirius raised an eyebrow, a bit of amusement overcoming his anger. "I'm not sure that's how it works, love."
Now she looked at him pleadingly. "If we make a big deal about it, we'll make him even angrier, especially if he feels bad about it already," she reasoned. "I've known him for years, Sirius. Trust me."
He sighed. "Fine," he said. "But if he makes one more untoward comment, I'm not going to do nothing, Hermione."
"I've grown used to it, by now," Hermione said, one corner of her mouth twitching up wryly. "Remember? That day at Grimmauld when he made me cry and you came to comfort me in the bathroom?"
He smiled at her, wishing he could brush an errant curl away from her face. "I do," he said, sentimental feelings coming across in his voice. "I do."
"And look on the bright side," Hermione added. "Now I'm definitely not taking Ron to the Christmas party."
November 9, 1996
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Grounds
Sirius knew of an area on the far bank of the lake that was relatively hidden from grounds and castle, which was where he took Hermione after the day's Quidditch match. Although it was growing increasingly cold, Sirius had transfigured a nice bench and coated the area in warming spells so as long as they both had cloaks and hats and scarves it was nice. And it gave him a good excuse to cuddle with her, on the pretext of huddling for warmth.
He had brought a thermos of hot chocolate, which they passed back and forth as they talked and looked out over the lake and frosty grounds. "What did you think of the match?" Hermione asked politely, knowing Sirius wanted to talk about it and didn't want to bring it up because he knew she wouldn't be interested.
Sirius gave her a grateful look. "I thought it was brilliant," he said happily. "It's always a joy to see Harry fly." He launched into an enthusiastic, yet still short, rendition of the match.
"And Ron wasn't that bad either," he added. "I was surprised- Harry was saying that he had a lot of confidence issues- why are you blushing?"
The abrupt change made her laugh. "Harry pretended to add Felix Felicis to Ron's pumpkin juice this morning," she told Sirius. "Ron thought he actually did it, and thought he could do no wrong."
Sirius frowned. "But Felix Felicis isn't allowed for sport's competitions. If Ron thought his juice had been spiked, he should have told the authorities and benched himself."
Hermione kissed the side of his mouth. "I love you," she said sincerely. "People think you're a joker and fine with illegal activities just because you're a fugitive, and they think you're so bad but really you're honorable and-"
A kiss stopped her from continuing. A warm gloved hand came up to hold her chin steady, and Sirius ruthlessly explored her mouth, kissing her hard. He tasted like hot chocolate and the mint candies they had been eating earlier and Hermione thought giddily that she had never tasted anything so wonderful, conveniently forgetting that she had a variation of this thought every time Sirius kissed her.
November 9, 1996
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Corridor outside the Gryffindor Common Room
"I shall leave you here, then, my love," Sirius said. Scanning the halls and seeing nobody but the Fat Lady (who glared- she hadn't forgotten Hermione's third year), he swooped in for a kiss. The Fat Lady made sound of disgust.
Hermione smiled against his lips, eyes closed. When he pulled away, she opened them and smiled in earnest. "I'll see you in a few minutes." She just needed to collect her bag and a change of clothes.
They could hear the roar from the Gryffindor Common Room, from the party that was raging inside. Hermione sighed. "I'm so glad it's a Saturday," Hermione said, grinning at Sirius. "If I was in there, I wouldn't be able to get a proper night's sleep."
"Are you sure you're going to get a proper night's sleep with me, poppet?" Sirius asked, a glint in his eye.
Hermione laughed. "We cannot have sex until three in the morning again-"
"Says who?" Sirius asked, hands darting down to draw her to him. "Tomorrow's Sunday, we can sleep in, have coffee in bed together-"
The portrait hole swung open and Ron and Lavender tumbled out, hand in hand and already searching for each other's lips. With her head turned to look at Ron, Lavender accidentally bumped into Hermione, sending her crashing into Sirius' chest.
"Oh- Sorry-" Lavender gasped, and giggled. "Ron-"
But Ron was glaring at Hermione and Sirius, who was holding her. "Come on, Lav," he said, sneering. "Let's go somewhere else."
Lavender squeaked and giggled again, waving to Hermione as Ron pulled her off. Sirius and Hermione looked at each other.
"Well," Hermione said at last. "He's found someone to snog."
Sirius nodded. "And it still hasn't sweetened his temper."
November 21, 1996
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Defense Against the Dark Arts Classroom
"Today," drawled Professor Snape, "I have been asked to allow some of our castle's… valiant... defenders to show you what a real Wizarding duel looks like." He glared down at his class, eyes flicking malevolently over to where Harry and Hermione were sitting.
Sirius and Tonks grinned at the class as they walked to a circle of cleared desks. "Some of you may recognize me," Sirius said jovially. "I wish to once again reassure everyone that I never did any of the things that got me tossed in Azkaban without a trial, I've been pardoned, and no, I've never been a Death Eater." Hermione noticed his eyes dart to Snape. "In fact, I used to be an Auror."
"And I am actually and Auror," Tonks said cheerfully. "And this great lump and I are going to duel three times: Once like a duel between two Aurors practicing, once like a civilian against a Dark Wizard, and once like an Auror against a Dark Wizard, so you can see the difference."
Snape looked unhappy with his teaching aids. He scowled, and in a dangerously low voice said, "Pay attention. You will be expected to take notes, and later we will be dueling in class. Do not interrupt for any reason."
The class quieted, and returned to watching Sirius and Tonks. Professor Snape raised a translucent barrier between them and the class.
"Robes are heavy and get in the way when you need to move fast," Sirius said. "The robes Aurors wear- you've all seen them, I hope, the blue ones like Tonks is wearing- aren't as long as normal robes and the sleeves are designed so they don't restrict arm movement."
He transfigured his own robes into a style like Tonks', and the two bowed to each other. "This is a simulation of a practice duel," Tonks explained. "In traditional sport dueling, the opponents bow to each other, and when practicing we do the same."
"This is the ready position for your wand," said Sirius, raising his wand to about chest height. "Now. At our referee's call-" he nodded at Snape.
The man sneered and raised his wand, bringing it down in a slash that let out a loud noise like a gong. The two fighters circled each other cautiously.
Tonks made the first move, sending a bolt of red fire at Sirius, who twisted out of the way and retaliated with a spell that sent a swarm of silver arrows at Tonks, who held her ground and raised and shield that they bounced off of. Sirius was relentless, sending spell after spell at her shield as she was forced to hold it up to avoid being hit.
Suddenly, she canceled the shield and ducked, aiming a spell at Sirius' legs. Hermione bit back a gasp as he went down, cursing, and spelled a shield around himself as Tonks tried to hit him again. He canceled the shield and sent a tripping jinx at his cousin, who fell as well. Fast as a whip, Sirius cast the counter-jinx on his legs and got to his feet, dodging the spells that Tonks was throwing at him.
As Tonks tried to struggle to her feet, Sirius conjured a rope net, keeping her on the ground. With a simple Expelliarmus, he had her wand in his hand and Tonks raised her hands in defeat.
"Any questions?" he asked, casting a Finite Incantatem on the net and helping Tonks to her feet. Hermione let go of Harry's hand, which she had been clutching in fear since the duel started. He winced and shook it out.
Professor Snape lowered the barrier, allowing the two duelers to be bombarded with questions. They answered a dozen, and then Sirius gestured for the barrier to be raised again.
"Now we will show a duel between a civilian and a Dark Wizard," Sirius said. "I will be playing the Dark Wizard. I will be using Dark Spells- everything except the Unforgivables. Other than the Killing Curse, the Unforgivables are really useless in a fight because they take too much concentration and power."
"I will be playing the civilian," Tonks added, exchanging her Auror's robes for regular long black ones. "One with your average Hogwarts Defense Against the Dark Arts education, with seven different teachers and little practice since."
This time they didn't bow; Sirius just attacked ruthlessly. Hermione was again gripping Harry's hand, which the boy had offered with a sigh and a fond look. There was not much need for fear, this time. Tonks wasn't fighting as well as she had been before. Now she stood in the same place, not moving to dodge Sirius' spells.
It was over in less than two minutes. With a cruel smile on his face, Sirius broke her shield and Stunned her. As soon as the barrier was down, he revived her. "If I had truly been a Dark Wizard," Sirius said, voice carrying through the classroom, "I would have killed her."
Hermione released Harry's hand, a small shiver running through her. It's so wrong, but when he's being all dark and dangerous and powerful, it is so hot. She blushed at the thought, causing Harry to look at her strangely as Tonks' and Sirius began asking questions.
"You alright?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Hermione whispered back.
Professor Snape raised the barrier once more when the questions were finished, and Tonks replaced her Auror's robes. "Now, we will show a duel between an Auror and a Dark Wizard."
This fight was far more intense. Both parties were moving faster and using deadlier spells. Hermione recognized a Bone-Breaker from Sirius, and a Strangling Hex from Tonks. When it passed two centimeters from Sirius' head, Harry winced as she clamped down on his hand.
It was hard to see who had the advantage. Tonks was younger, in better form, and still trained regularly. She was, however, young, and had not fought in the first war against Voldemort. Sirius was larger, more powerful, and using Darker spells. However, he had been held in Azkaban for twelve years and had only started to regain his previous strength and agility in the past two years.
Tonks was tiring, moving slower. Sirius was also slowing, with beads of sweat showing at his temples and darkening his shirt collar where it showed above his robes. Hermione worried, more caught up in her fiancé the duel. The hand that wasn't clutching at Harry, was, however, taking diligent notes.
The duel ended when Tonks tripped over her own feet, therefore missing a spell Sirius had sent her way and tripping Sirius as well. As he fell, she caught him with a spell that flung him at the barrier with a loud cracking noise. When he fell, he remained slumped over and motionless.
"Sirius!" Hermione cried, rising. Tonks looked at her with sympathy.
"He's fine," the Auror assured the girl. "Just-"
"Miss Granger, sit down." Professor Snape's voice was low and dangerous. "Now!"
Embarrassed, Hermione sunk into her seat.
With a malicious gleam in his eye, Professor Snape stalked toward Hermione. "Miss Granger, do you recall what I said at the beginning of the demonstration?"
Hermione looked down. "Yes, sir."
"Look at me when I am talking to you, Miss Granger," purred Snape. "Did I not say that you were not to interrupt for any reason?" Behind him, Tonks was Rennervating Sirius.
"Yes, sir," Hermione replied, clenching her jaw. She could feel her cheeks blooming red. She looked up at her professor.
He looked down his long hooked nose at her. "Despite any… personal connections with the dueler, I expect you to listen and obey."
"Yes, sir," Hermione said again. Sirius stood, rubbing his head.
"Detention," Snape said finally. "Let's see… Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evening."
Sirius widened his eyes as he heard. "Snape-"
"I am the professor in this situation and I shall make whatever judgment I see fit," Snape snarled, turning to face Sirius. "Finish with this demonstration, then leave my classroom."
The two men faced each other for a moment, and Hermione waited with another thread of worry to see who would back down first. Finally, Tonks tugged Sirius back up onto the platform to face the students.
"Any questions on that last part?"
November 22, 1996
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Defense Against the Dark Arts Office
"I believe we are now through, Miss Granger," Snape said smirking unpleasantly at her. "As it is late, I have asked the Head Boy to escort you to the Gryffindor Tower. We wouldn't want you to get another detention for being out past curfew now, would we?"
It was certainly late, past midnight, and the Head Boy was a Slytherin. He knows about my permission to sleep with Sirius on weekends, Hermione realized with a hot fury. He's making sure I can't see Sirius this weekend.
Instead of answering with anger, Hermione gritted her teeth and smiled at the professor. "Thank you, sir," she bit out. "Your concern for my safety is most… admirable."
"It is a dangerous time, now," Snape said silkily. "You must be careful, Miss Granger."
Hermione tried smiling again, and turned to leave, opening the door. Outside was Marius Belby, the Head Boy. He was leaning against the stone wall and yawning.
"Let's go," Hermione said grumpily.
He sneered at her. "I've got strict orders to see you to Gryffindor Tower."
"Then let's go," Hermione said again.
November 24, 1996
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Gryffindor Girls' Dorms
"I should go, now," Hermione said, yawning. "We'll have next weekend, Sirius."
Sirius scowled. "I hate him," he said in a tight voice.
Hermione gave him a crooked smile. "I find myself nearing closer and closer to hating him too," she said. "He gave me three days of detention for something that should have been House Points and worst and he did it to punish you, not me."
She yawned again, and Sirius shook his head. "You're tired and it's almost one," he said regretfully. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Mm'kay," Hermione said. "I love you."
He blew her a kiss. "I love you too."
She put down her mirror, and went to sleep.
I want to defend my actions by staying I absolutely adore Snape but I got this idea and totally ran with it. If you want to read about my Snape adoration, go check out my (quite long, now) Severus/Hermione fic, For the Only Hope. I am quite sure it is one of the best things I've ever written, and it has become my new baby.
I will continue to write as much as possible, but as of now I have three WIP and a job and school. And school starts in TWO WEEKS because it's crazy and decided that the first week of August is prime learning time. :( And I have college applications and an Extended Essay and Internal Assessments for English, History, Psychology, Physics, and summer homework that needs to be finished and HOLY FUCK I accidentally got a job and family will be visiting soon and so I'm screwed. Plus I agreed to interview some veterans and do a type of project which involves long interviews and writing their stories and that needs to get done plus NHS.
So the next chapter might be a while, if I don't die of stress first. And if you have any advice/words of wisdom/warnings to give about senior year of IB and/or college applications, I am all ears.
Reviews are nice (we are almost to 300! I love you all) and I shall see you next update!