Hermione felt overwhelmed as she approached the building with Sirius holding her. His arm felt secure around her shoulders as he caressed her skin. The witch stopped her feet at the door and breathed.
"It's alright, I gotcha, love," Sirius whispered.
Hermione inhaled. "I don't want to do this, Sirius," she exhaled.
"Do you trust me?" He asked while facing her.
She bobbed her head and swallowed. Sirius smiled and touched her cheek, tracing her lips with his thumb. "I promise, if you feel at all odd, I'll hold you and keep you safe."
Hermione pulled him in for a hug and breathed in the smooth scent of his cologne. It was amazing, and she could douse her pillows in it. Sirius kissed her forehead before resting his chin against her.
"Sirius, you're exceptional," Hermione whispered.
He chuckled and sighed. "Oh, love. You stroke my ego all the time."
Hermione pulled from him and smiled. "Now, what's the story?"
"Story?"
She rocked her head. "We have to have a story. You just talked about buying a house this morning. Molly is going to demand a story sternly."
Sirius grinned and straightened his vest. "Why can't it be the truth? We drunkenly shagged, and I realized I didn't want to live without you."
Hermione sighed as she disagreed. "No, that most certainly cannot be the story."
"Then I just want to live with someone who reminds me of the best parts of Moony," Sirius nodded.
Hermione's eyes widened, and she swallowed. "No, that's," as she was stumbling on her words, the door opened. The witch turned to see George glancing at them with a wide smile.
"Well, I'll be damned. The recluse and the marauder," he snickered.
Hermione put on her polite smile and reached for George. "Evening, Georgie."
He breathed and embraced her. "We've missed our brightest witch, Hermione."
"I've missed you too."
When she pulled away, Hermione gestured to Sirius. "He doesn't remember this type of affair, but he's still Sirius. So, let's just keep reminding people of that, including your mum."
George chuckled and reached for Sirius's hand. They shook, and he nodded. "Good to see you again, Sirius. Don't worry, the rest of my family is like us. Barmy, loud, and we love to drink."
Sirius grinned and winked. "You sound like my kind of people."
Hermione watched as the man masked the perfect smile and got through small talk as they walked inside. How did he get so decent at masking his discomfort? She knew he was uncomfortable, the small subtleties that she'd gathered from him. Sirius was just an excellent charmer and knew it.
His persona's degree was always a bit masked, but being out of her flat really highlighted it. She had watched him all day and then when they're alone. He's relaxed. Him getting through all the Weasleys with laughter and smiles but being wholly uncomfortable. Why didn't she see the degree of this before?
"So, how have you two gotten along?" Bill questioned.
Hermione shook from her thoughts and realized they were having more than small talk discussed. The witch smiled and shifted on her feet. "He's been quite the housemate."
Sirius wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "Oh, yes. I burnt the chicken the other night. She ate it anyway," he laughed.
"He doesn't leave his towel on the floor or uses my toothbrush, so we're doing quite well," Hermione smiled.
George raised his bottle. "Here's to someone who can live with her."
"Hey, I'm not that much of a terror," Hermione grumbled.
"You're a bit much at times, but we love that about you," Bill chuckled.
Hermione rocked her head and smiled through it. Sirius caressed her skin again and kissed her hair. The conversation was humming in her mind as they continued. There was so much going on that Hermione felt lost. Ron had joined into the fray, and it began a playful turn.
She could hear them. The conversation was about the shop and many trivial aspects of life. However, it was a hum in comparison to her feelings, and the textures of the room were so potent. Sirius. His thumb ran against her skin. It felt like the whole room vibrated, but he kept her grounded. That blurred texture of chaos, and then there was him…
"You both are pretty decent companions then?" George questioned.
Sirius nodded and pulled the witch closer. "She's pretty stellar. We have our evenings of reading or watching films. Sometimes if she's feeling frisky, she'll take me out on a walk," he chuckled.
"We always knew Hermione was more of a dog person than a cat person," Bill laughed.
"He's my favorite dog," Hermione said.
Harry and Ginny walked in from the kitchen and laughed. "You both really did come," Ginny smirked.
"Yeah, I convinced her to put on some clothing and come," Sirius declared.
George and Ron glanced at each other. "Put on clothing?"
Hermione groaned and waved a hand. "His expression. I certainly don't walk around naked."
"A dog can beg," He snorted.
"Same ole, Sirius," George laughed.
Hermione smiled up at him, and he winked down at her. This was so easy actually to feel with him around. How did she reach this ledge? Hermione spent years avoiding the spots in her mind that were warm, and he seemed to bring it forth.
"Hermione Granger, come in here now!" Molly shouted as she appeared from the doorway.
Hermione winced, and Sirius glanced back. "Hello, Molly," he smirked.
"Don't you even start with me, Sirius Black. I will have you know. I haven't seen this girl in weeks."
Sirius directed them toward her, and she snatched up Hermione from him. "Now, you go have a drink. I'm going to have a chat with the next minister," Molly excused him.
Hermione gazed back at the animagus and grimaced as Molly steered her into the kitchen. She knew that she was in for a list of men that were Molly Weasley approved. The reminder that yet again, she wasn't meeting expectations. It wasn't Molly's fault. She only wanted the best for her. She only wanted Hermione to be a normal witch. She wasn't.
The younger witch sank further and further as Molly continued her assault while flicking her wand at the pots. Hermione felt like the figurative belt around her chest kept tightening as the room darkened. Sweat beaded on her forehead as she answered at appropriate times and attempted to quell the attack.
"I just don't understand it, dear. I know you work so hard, but you deserve happiness," Molly tutted as she touched Hermione's shoulder. "I'm only assisting with you finding your way. A family with children, those are all normal things, and you more than anyone deserves it."
"Molly," Hermione tried.
"No, no, dear. You just need to take the dive and try, darling," Molly pressed and rubbed her shoulder.
Her back spasmed with a sharp pain causing her to feel trapped again. Hermione jerked from her grip and gasped. "Don't you understand? I don't want it! I just want to be left the fuck alone!" She shouted and pressed her hand to her chest as she breathed.
"Hermione Granger," Molly said as she put her hand on her hip.
"I just want to be left alone," she gasped.
"Dear, are you okay?" Molly asked as she reached for her.
"Stop, don't touch me!" Hermione cried as she backed up. She let out a wretched groan as her free hand went into her hair. She could hear the cackling in her ears. Why did she think she could ever do this? She wasn't drunk enough to handle this.
Sirius had raced into the room and ducked to the witch. "Hey, hey, look at me."
Hermione, let go of tears as she gasped. "Sirius, I just can't."
He nodded and caressed her cheek. "Here," he whispered and put her hand on his chest. "Breathe."
Hermione obeyed and kept eye contact with him as tears streamed down her cheeks. He pressed his fingers over hers on her chest. It was this intensity that thrummed over the erratic thoughts that overwhelmed her.
"You're here, not there," he breathed.
"Here," Hermione murmured as she caught a deep breath.
"That's my girl. We're going to sit outside a second, then come in and get some water," He whispered and caressed her fingers.
"I need a drink," Hermione grumbled and closed her eyes.
"No, not yet. We've had a long day of ups and downs. Give yourself a second. Permit yourself just to breathe," he voiced and gripped her fingers over her chest.
Hermione licked her lips as her breathing settled. "Why did I let you convince me to come?" She sighed while shaking her head.
"Because you think I'm devilishly handsome," he smiled and caressed her cheek.
Hermione choked on a laugh as her lips curled. "That's true occasionally."
Sirius pulled her close, and Hermione caressed his chest. "Now, do you want to get some air, then come in and get some wine?"
Hermione nodded against him as her cheek rubbed against his chest. She wasn't positive how he just understood, but he did. Sirius tucked her under his arm and walked her toward the back door. They stepped off the porch, and Sirius released her, taking her hand as they wandered out toward the field.
"How do you do it?" Hermione questioned as she stared out at the darkening sky.
Sirius breathed and waved his free hand. "Years of training myself."
"Don't you ever feel trapped? You don't have to tell me what you suffered as a child to know it left a mark," Hermione declared.
Sirius inhaled and glanced up at the sky as they slowed. "I feel trapped all the time, love. I feel undeserving and hollow. I've learned over the years of self-medication and hiding that it never stops. The only thing I can do is find one place that's just my own."
"What was your place?"
Sirius turned her and met her gaze. "My marauders."
Hermione pressed her lips together. "I see."
Sirius flopped to the long grass and pulled the witch down. "We need to talk about this."
"About?" Hermione puffed as she moved closer to his body.
"Do you trust me?" He whispered as he grazed her cheek with his fingers.
"Irrefutably," she sighed.
His lips curled in the slightest. "Would you let me help you? So you don't need to race off and shag strangers to feel something. I've done it all my life, luckily the night I reverted, you were the witch I was with. We could help each other."
"How?" Hermione grimaced.
"Putting on bandages for each other. The hard to reach ones," he smiled.
Hermione puffed and straightened her shirt. "Then, that means you have to be open as well."
"I know," Sirius scrunched his face. "But if it will help you feel more than darkness, I'm willing to do so."
She rocked her head. "Alright, Sirius," she sighed.
He maneuvered with her in the grass and pointed up at the sky. "That's the Big Dipper," he declared.
She turned her face just a bit to stare at him before pointing to a bright star. "And that's Sirius. I used to glance up all the time and talk to you while Harry and I were in the Forest of Dean. It made me feel less alone out there."
Sirius breathed and lifted his head enough to kiss her forehead. "I'm glad I could help."
"Can we just stay in our sea of stars?" She asked him.
"Unfortunately, we have to go back inside soon. How about we make a plan to enjoy our sea of stars next weekend?" Sirius asked as he stared up at the blanket that surrounded them and the long grass.
Hermione rocked her head. "Just us?"
"Just us," Sirius smiled and sat up. "Come on, love. They probably think we shagged in the field," he grinned.
Hermione rolled her eyes but beamed. "Molly is going to be quite upset."
"Don't you worry about it, I have it, Hermione," Sirius voiced as he pulled them to their feet.
They glanced back at the glowing house. It was such a different perspective after she was centered. The warmth returned to her chest, and she squeezed Sirius's hand. "Thank you," she whispered as they walked back.
"I'm not going anywhere," Sirius replied, and they rejoined the dinner.
Things had settled, and no one asked Hermione questions about the outburst. However, there were questioning stares given to the marauder. What was that? Is she alright? Are you two more than you say? He had no answer for those expressions because it was really no one's business. He kept smiling and even got Hermione to do the same.