A/N: Sorry it has been an inexcusably long time since my last update. I needed a mental break from life kinda…and there has been personal stuff going on. If you wanna know, I'm a pm away, if not—I don't blame you, so on with the show! Thanks to all my lovely readers! Not beta-d as I wanted to get this out ASAP, but thanks to my lovely beta LiteratiAngel all the same.
~o0o~
"Sirius, may I go and visit Severus? He doesn't even know that I am back and I miss him terribly" Dora pleaded with her cousin over breakfast the next morning. For the first time in a long time, Sirius' long dining table was filled. Hermione sat next to him and Dora on his other side. Ginny, Ron, Harry, and the Twins had their places as well. Fleur, Minerva, and Neville could be heard chatting softly as they ate their own breakfast in the nook past the kitchen. George immediately looked down at his plate when she spoke.
"I am not so sure that is a good idea," Sirius admonished her softly; "He'll be coming to the Salon tomorrow night and we have plenty to do around here. Speaking of which, boys…Narcissa has requested your help today. She'll be coming over this afternoon to start the preparations. And Harry, Ron, and Ginny…after tomorrow I am going to have to ask you move back to your apartment. I would like some time alone with Hermione."
Sirius tried to be tactful about it. He loved Harry dearly already and even though his house was spacious, he was starting to tire of the chaos that having this makeshift family brought. He was sure he would welcome it again soon…but he needed a break.
"Of course," Harry set his glass down and looked across the table at Sirius, "We are actually going to visit Ginny and Ron's Mother and Father and Fred and George are coming as well, so you will have some peace for a few days."
"Sounds lovely" Hermione added, winking across at her black-haired best friend, knowing what that trip will bring.
"Great, wonderful, now…about Severus…" Dora chirped back in.
"Please call him Monsieur Snape darling, I can't bear to think of you with him so intimately anyway…don't get me wrong, I give you my blessing as your cousin, but I don't have to readily stomach it!" Sirius laughed and Dora stuck her lower lip out in a pout.
"I think you deserve someone that you can be seen out in broad daylight with" George said casually and Dora flushed. It was clear that George's intentions for her were clear and sad that he had to be put through this misery.
"You can't help who you fall in love with…" Ginny said, looking pointedly down the table at her brother, who just shrugged. At her friends' words, Hermione felt herself growing sad. No, of course she couldn't help that she had fallen in love with Sirius. Who could? Cissy's words ran through her brain, about how Sirius was in love with her as well. As they sat next to each other, eating breakfast with everyone close to the pair of them, it felt so right. They were both constantly sidestepping the 'l' word regularly now and it was a charade it itself to try and pretend feelings hadn't grown.
"Fine Nymphadora, I will take you," Sirius ended the discussion with a stern look around the table and soon everyone finished up their breakfast and went about their day. As Dora and Sirius prepared to leave, Hermione sat in the drawing room waiting for Cissy to arrive and watched the Twins play chess and heard Fleur cursing every once in a while in the kitchen as she prepared the massive amounts of food for tomorrow evening. The thought of the event made Hermione's stomach turn. Riddle would be there, and Mademoiselle Gold, and Sirius' other cousins along with a whole slew of other people she didn't know. It was intimidating.
"Darling?"
Hermione snapped out of her worries and looked up at the man she was undeniably in love with, standing before her.
"Hermione are you alright?"
"Yes, sorry," she said politely and stood up from the chaise. He kissed her cheek for longer than was necessary.
"I'll see you tonight, wait up for me?" Sirius whispered in her ear and she nodded as he pulled away, gave her a wink and left with Dora. She heard his motorcar pulling away from the house a moment later.
~o0o~
"Severus!" Dora smiled happily as she ran past the empty tables of the Bergére towards the bar where he was seated and going over some papers. He looked up, thoroughly surprised to see her running at him and stood up just in time to embrace her, a half-smile on his face. Sirius lingered a few paces back, looking around at the Bergére in the daylight as Dora and Severus embraced.
"I was wondering when I would see you. I am so glad you are alright," he said, his voice lacking the chill it usually had. He sounded genuinely happy.
"I wanted to come sooner, Sirius insisted I rest though…" she explained and looked back at Sirius who smiled sheepishly, feeling like he was intruding on the lovers' embrace.
"Right, Monsieur Black. I am so thankful for what you did for Nymphadora," He approached him, extending a hand, "Could you give us a moment alone Dora?"
She nodded, eyeing the two men suspiciously before making herself scarce and Snape motioned for Sirius to sit down with him at the nearest table.
"I can leave you and Dora alone for the rest of the afternoon if you will find she makes it home safely, but I needed to talk to you as well. There has been an incident with my fortune…" Sirius started.
"An incident?"
"More of a disaster…it has been taken. And so has the Malfoys'. I suspect Tom Riddle has something to do with it, but it is looking like it won't be back in either of our hands soon. I was wondering if…" Sirius began but the look on Severus' face stopped him.
"That brings me to some bad news," Snape sighed, "Yesterday Riddle paid me a visit, and said that he did not like the way I was running his establishment. That is wasn't bringing in enough money. His lawyers are currently working coming to an agreement to let me go, which I am sure will involve hardly any money. So there is nothing I can loan you Black, I am sorry."
"Fuck…the man has his hands in everything!" Sirius groaned.
"Let us not forget that on top of taking my livelihood away, he has kidnapped the woman I love, which has caused Mademoiselles Granger and Weasley to leave-I am happy for their safety yes, but when Riddle takes over, he'll drive every decent girl out of here" Snape added.
"But at that point it won't be your problem if this place goes under."
"It will if it causes me to lose my home…and I can't give Dora extra anymore…"
"Speaking of Dora, there is something you should know. While she was staying in the country it came to my attention that she and I are cousins. She is my cousin Andromeda's long-lost daughter and I value her happiness. If I could, I would support the both of you. Before a few days ago I could have easily. Please do not say anything about this to her. I don't need her to worry. I will get my money back, but I will need your help," Sirius asked. Snape reached out his hand over the table and Sirius shook it forcefully.
"Anything for her. I never thought I would ever be in the position to repeatedly help you Black, but I have to say that we do make smart but unexpected allies. Now if you'll excuse me, I the fiery little sprite to deal with," Snape nodded and stood up, walking down the hallway, past the dressing rooms, and to his office where Dora was waiting.
~o0o~
"Harry and Ronald, take that large one and put it in the library!" Narcissa told them. Over the course of the morning Sirius' house had turned into a chaotic jumble of flower arrangements, shined silverware, extra tables, and what looked to be the entire contents of an art gallery. The regal blonde was directing the boys carrying the paintings to different rooms. They were all wrapped and filled the dining room, large library, drawing room, and the card room. Cissy had a vision for the Salon, and she was bent on executing it perfectly, much to Fluer, and the boys' disdain.
Hermione and Ginny were taking tea in the sun room as the moving was taking place. The boys had little to complain about besides the heavy lifting, as the paintings were theirs to be displayed on the walls and thus shown to the most brilliant and wealthiest of Paris in twenty-four hours' time.
"I wonder if Dora is having fun" Ginny remarked cheekily and Hermione giggled, both girls falling into an inappropriate conversation until a familiar voice jolted Hermione out of her laughter. She didn't have to wait long for her suspicions to be confirmed.
"Monsieur Lupin! So glad you could come. I just had the boys move your painting into the library," came Cissy's voice and Hermione and Ginny looked at each other in shock.
"Thank you, I have the other smaller ones…where shall I take them?"
"Up the stairs, first door on the left, they will suit that room nicely," she finished. Hermione knew Remus was invited to the Salon, and to exhibit his paintings, but she hadn't prepared herself for it. She left her tea and made her way to the foyer where Narcissa was telling the Twins what to do with the last few paintings.
"Everything alright Hermione?" she asked.
"I didn't realize…"
"Monsieur Lupin will be spending the night, so that we can all be together to prepare for the Salon. I know it is not ideal but…"
"Have you told Sirius?"
"Do I look like I want to meet my maker today dear?" she smiled cunningly, her red lips curling up, "He will have to deal with it. Now come, I want to show you my pièce de résistance!"
Hermione followed her up the staircase into the library where Harry was arguing with Ron, who was standing in the corner of the room blushing. She soon realized why-the nearly naked painting of herself was propped against the wall and Ron was refusing to hang it.
"'Mione…I'm sorry…but when did you do this?" Ron yelled at her.
"When Sirius threw me out onto the street…it is nothing. Nothing happened!" she yelled back and Cissy seemed overcome by the sudden outbursts.
"Trust me Ronald, she was just a model for it…." Remus seconded, popping into the room. He caught Hermione's eye and gave her a small smile.
"Stop being like this and help me hang it," Harry sighed. He could barely look at it either. That was his best friend…naked. He knew Ron was uncomfortable for different reasons, but he had to admit it was a stunning and shocking picture, perfect for this type of event where everything new and innovative was regaled and discussed.
"Fine," Ron grumbled as he helped hoist the large portrait up into the empty space on the wall while Hermione slipped out of the room unnoticed.
"Hope this isn't too much of a shock. Madame Malfoy insisted…" Remus said with sorry eyes. He was fidgeting uncomfortably, looking around the large manor.
"No, I just hope Sirius doesn't react too badly to it. He shouldn't. He asked you and everything, but I hardly know with him nowadays," she tried to make light of it, hoping that maybe him and Sirius could strike up a friendship; though that seemed unlikely now.
"I think she will protect me," Remus laughed, cocking his head towards Cissy yelling at the boys in the library, "Something tells me that tomorrow is going to be more than we both bargained for."
"Remus, I sincerely hope you are wrong."
A/N: The big party is next! Sorry this is short…but I wanted to get something out tonight and then crack on in writing the big to do! Love and reviews always appreciated!