Author's Note: This is an extra long chapter and has lots of descriptions of food in it (that's for you Alix33), and it's also the most mature chapter yet. If you're prone to reading at your desk at work or with children around, you might not want to do that with this one. I have a new story (if you don't already know) called "Harry's Second Christmas" and the premise is what if Sirius didn't go after Peter but instead decided to care for Harry and has taken him to the Potter family seat to protect him, even from those on the Light side of the conflict. I'll be putting up a new chapter tomorrow. Thanks for reading and reviewing. MNF

Chapter 12:

Touch

Saturday, February 12, 2000

"So, was it as bad as Minerva expected?" Sirius asked through the Floo.

"She was definitely right about the tears and squabbles," Junie said. "I don't know how many girls I talked with today near the Hospital Wing. I was charged with casting Cheering Charms and occasionally administering a dose of the Draught of Peace. Although my last hour was spent comforting Rosie. Miles Tolbert broke up with her today."

"Bollocks," Sirius said under his breath. "Do I need to set the young man straight?" he asked in all sincerity.

"No, because Rosie would be mortified if her uncle said anything. I'll take care of Rosie, as I'm her godmother, and I'm here. Anyway, I think she brought it upon herself."

"What do you mean?"

"Valentine's Day is so hyped up, and these kids are expecting it to be like something from a storybook, and when it's not, they seem to melt down. I don't think Miles could have done anything which would have pleased Rosie completely. She snapped at him, and he said he didn't need the hassle of being her boyfriend anymore. I suspect they will have made up in a week or so. Too much pressure, and the whole stress of their seventeenth birthdays coming up. I don't wish to be a teenager again."

"I loved being at Hogwarts and my school years," Sirius said wistfully.

"Of course, you did; you were the king of the school!"

"I was not; that was James."

"No, he might have run the Marauders, but you ruled the school. Everyone turned when you came into a room, even in your first year. You were the child from the Black family who was sorted into Gryffindor. It was shocking, even to me, and I'd only heard of your family in the most general of terms. Dad did explain the Sacred Twenty-Eight to me before I went to Hogwarts. You were, still are, larger than life when you're in your public persona."

"My public persona?"

"You know what I mean, that slightly cocky, highly articulate, knowledgeable man who makes people listen to him. Then there is this other side of you, the quiet man who watches movies with me, who makes me giggle at bad jokes about his name, and who can kiss me senseless. I wish I'd known more of the second one when we were in school; I might not have avoided speaking with you for two decades."

"Junie, can you come to my house on Monday night?" Sirius suddenly asked.

"Sure, I'm done teaching at two, and then I have two hours of being in my office for students to come to visit, but I'll be done by four. I'm not on hall duty that night; I just need to let Minerva know."

"Good," Sirius said with nervous nodding, which Junie was about to ask about when there was knocking on her door.

"I should get that," Junie said. "I'll call you tomorrow?"

"Yeah, I'm home all day. Goodbye, Luv."

"Bye." She waved her fingers until the fireplace was dark.

Two days later, Junie was in her school quarters, kneeling in front of the fireplace calling out Sirius' name. She was about to give up when he appeared.

"I'm ready to come through if you are?" she said with a happy smile.

"I've been waiting for you to call all afternoon," he answered honestly, which made her smile widen. Junie picked up her wool cape and the small package she'd neatly wrapped in gold paper and grabbed some Floo powder, and slid through to Sirius' house.

Today was the second time she'd be in the newly rebuilt Grimmauld Place. Last week when she'd come over, Sirius explained the process of raising the old structure and the rebuilding process. The land had retained the numerous charms and hexes which had protected the old family seat. Still, his new home wasn't soaked in Dark magic or horrific memories of a mother who was cold and unaffectionate and a father who thought nothing of beating his boys into submission.

The new home reflected the builder. The spaces were warm and inviting, with plenty of comfortable spots to sit and talk. The lowest level was where the kitchen was and the small set of rooms for Minsey, his house-elf. Sirius admitted that even he wasn't welcomed in his own kitchen, and Minsey considered it her domain. There was storage down there since Sirius had chosen not to have an attic that could attract the ghosts of long-dead members he disliked.

The ground floor only had two rooms and a large reception area with the Floo fireplace and front door. A large and open orangery built of wrought iron and glass was to the rear of the level. Tall fruit trees lined the room, and in the middle, there was a full set of wicker furniture featuring comfortable places to sit and read. Junie had already spent a delightful afternoon reading while Sirius played with her hair and distracted her with gentle kisses. Access to the rear porch and garden was through the Orangery.

The other room, to the front of the house, was Sirius's lower office. Since it was directly across from the Floo fireplace in the main hallway, it was a place he could meet with those who worked with or for him at the Ministry when he wasn't needed to be on site. When Sirius had the interior wards raised, you could not access any of the other floors of the home, nor the Orangery and its access to the rear garden. Upon Junie's arrival, she hung her cape on one of the two coat trees, and laid the small package, and her gloves on the marble-topped table beside it.

The first floor had an exquisite dining room, the walls lined with shelf after shelf of Black family china and crystal Sirius said he couldn't part with. He hoped one day there would be a Lady Black who would have need of it. A formal parlour ran across the front of the house, and a less formal lounge was across the grand staircase from the dining room. A ballroom ran across the back of the first floor and extended over the porch at the house's rear. Junie hadn't seen the second or third floors, since those contained the more private rooms.

She brushed the soot off her new dress, hoping it hadn't been stained from her trip. The day before, she'd pressed her girlfriends into a quick trip into Muggle Edinburgh to help her buy everything from new underwear to fancier shoes. It dawned on her after their group 'date' on Friday that Sirius was much better dressed than she, even with the addition of Marlene's blouse. The dress she was wearing was a dark green that had a slight shimmer of gold when the skirt's pleats moved. Although there was a beautiful lace panel sewn into the material to cover much of her torso, the top was sheer, her shoulders and arms were covered by the merest of material in the dark green. The panel showed more cleavage than she was used to, but the sheer fabric gave her the feeling of being completely covered. Junie was wearing a strapless bra for the first time in her life.

Sirius came out of his small office and stopped to stare. Not only was she in an elegant dress that left her more uncovered than he'd ever seen, but Junie was also wearing short boots with a heel. The jewellery he'd given her was prominently displayed, and he smiled, knowing the gift he had for her tonight would look spectacular with her outfit.

"Juniper, you look stunning," he whispered as he took her into his arms and kissed her deeply.

"Thank you," she whispered when their kiss ended. "I wanted to look nice for you." It was something Junie had never considered in any of her previous relationships. She expected the men she'd dated to take her as she was, not try to change her to fit their mould. While it was a good theory in principle, Junie now realized a small bit of change, or a growing, in a relationship was not only acceptable but an encouraging sign.

"Junie, you don't need to dress up for me," Sirius said. "You could have come in your woollen pyjamas, and I would have thought you beautiful." Sirius had taken her face in his hands as he said this.

"Thank you for saying that," she said, leaning her face into his left hand a bit before she put her hands on his and lowered them. "But on Friday, when we were all together, I realized that you always look so well put together and your clothes fit you perfectly; I don't usually look that way. If I am going to be yours," she hesitated, needing to find the right word, "your partner, I should look like I belong with you."

"I don't want you to change for me," Sirius said, not upset, but instead pleading in his tone.

"Oh, sweetheart, a certain amount of change is good when you're in," Junie stopped short of saying the word love, even though she was sure that's what it was. "When you're close with someone."

"I don't want you to be someone you're not," Sirius said softly, knowing what word she'd almost used. He wished she'd said it because he wanted to tell her how he felt too.

"I'm not," Junie assured. "I really needed new clothing. My wardrobe is full of very casual jeans, jumpers, tees, and then the seven suits and five outer black or navy-blue robes I wore while working for the Ministry and a myriad of white blouses to wear under. I wear the same robes and suits to teach in. It's time I built up a better wardrobe for myself. I was in a rut."

"You wouldn't wear this dress to teach in, would you?" Sirius asked, taking her hand to lead her upstairs.

"No, but I do have a little mixer our new Ancient Runes professor is putting together next week, and I might wear this to that."

"You don't sound excited," Sirius said with a chuckle at the distaste in Junie's voice.

"You remember Professor Slughorn's parties while we were in school?" Sirius nodded. He hated the things. "These are similar, but with grown-ups shuffling for a position on who is the most important. I found the previous one, both ridiculous and dull."

"Would you like a date?"

"I was going to ask, but I wouldn't put you through the horrors of having people attempt to become your cronies. I don't think you even have any sycophants, except maybe Peter." Sirius ignored the comment about Wormtail, even though Junie wasn't wrong.

"No, I do not want people who crowd around me, hoping for political power because they know me. I have Hawkins, my assistant, and he's enough. I have friends and colleagues. Nevertheless, if you would like, I would love to escort you. I don't want any other men getting ideas of asking you out; you look so," he paused, "sexy in that dress."

They had stopped on the first-floor landing, and Junie was staring at Sirius wide-eyed. Never in her life had anyone called her sexy. She was plain, quiet, and dull. She wasn't sexy. Yet here, in Sirius' home, with his eyes smouldering as he stared at her, she felt sexy. He made her feel like a sexy woman.

Junie was suddenly conscious of her knickers' satin and her bra's sheer front panels, which barely concealed the darker circles at the centre. She realized she was breathing heavily.

Sirius took her in his arms and kissed her hard. He walked her into his parlour, their embrace continuing. Then he set her onto the longest sofa and then covered her with his body. His hand found the clips holding her hair back, and he pulled them out. While still kissing her, he fanned her hair out, although he kept his fingers in it.

There was no denying the physical response he had to her, and unlike before, when he'd angled himself to hide it, today, Junie felt it pressing against her. It made her tingle, and something knotted inside her in anticipation. There was no way obscure the tautness of the skin across her breasts, and she was sure he felt the reaction too.

His left hand drifted down across her face, the long column of her neck, across her shoulder, and down the side of her midriff. His hand moved across her belly and back up her side. He did this three times, the whole while his tongue was doing delicious things to her mouth, behind her ear, and down her neck. Finally, on the fourth near-miss pass of her breast, she pushed him off her and sat up. He sat at the other end of the couch.

"What's wrong?" Sirius asked hesitantly, suspecting he'd gone too far.

"Why won't you touch me?"

"I just was touching you," he answered, confused.

"No, why won't you touch my breasts? You haven't, ever, in all our snogging sessions, you avoid them. I realize they're rather small but goodness gracious! You call me sexy, and then you don't –" her words were cut off by his lips, his arms pulling her towards the spot where he sat. Once she was on his lap, he gently moved his hand up her arm while the other went around her waist, anchoring her to him. When his hand reached her chest, he covered her and gently squeezed. The action elicited a sigh from Junie. They continued this way until Sirius heard a quiet chime, alerting him that their meal was ready.

"I don't want to end this, but Minsey has worked extra diligently on dinner tonight," he whispered into her now messy hair.

"No, I think a break would be best," Junie agreed, and she slid off him to right her dress and raked her fingers through her hair. "Do you know where my wand is?" Sirius slipped his hand between the cushions and produced it. It was a moment longer before he could stand.

"Dinner is going to be served in my private dining quarters," he said, leading her to the stairs and the second floor.

The second-floor rooms were smaller than the ones below, but they also appeared more lived in. They turned to the right and entered an intimate dining room with a table that could seat eight. The room was done in a beautiful wine-coloured red with a brocade fabric covering the walls. The curtains were in creamy ivory with identically coloured sheers providing privacy. One end of the table was set in gold-rimmed, white china plates, and sparkling crystal. The candles of the chandelier gave the entire room a soft, warm glow. A few more candles were on the table, providing play between light and shadow. Red and white rose petals were strewn across the tabletop, making the space feel decidedly romantic.

"Sirius, this is so beautiful," Junie whispered as her eyes drank in the room. "I've never seen anything so romantic."

"Happy Valentine's Day, Juniper," Sirius whispered in her ear. He was standing behind her, his arms wrapped around her midriff.

"Thank you. No one has ever gone to such effort."

"No one has ever been marked with your name," he said gently. "The Bond is getting stronger; please tell me you feel it too."

"I do," she said earnestly. "When I'm away from you, I ache. I need to be in your presence." Sirius directed her to sit down, and he sat next to her at the head of the table. He held her hands, looking like he wanted to say something. Their conversation was interrupted by Minsey popping in with a tureen of soup, which magically filled their bowls. She was gone just as quickly, although a basket of bread was now on the table, along with pats of butter sculpted in the shape of roses.

Junie smiled after tasting the soup. "Carrot and Ginger soup. I love this. My mother used to make it for us all winter, especially if I was a bit ill." She took another spoonful, careful not to spill on herself. "This is delectable."

"I'm so happy you like it," Sirius beamed. "Minsey and I worked on the menu together. My first choice for starters didn't go over well with my elf."

"What did you want to serve?" Junie asked, wondering just how horrid his choice was if his elf was willing to go against him.

"Ham and five beans soup."

"Oh, I'm so glad Minsey talked you out of it," Junie said with a slight laugh. "No woman wants to eat bean soup when she's out on a date."

"Why?" Sirius said, not understanding.

Junie thought for a moment about how to phrase this delicately. "The effects of beans on the digestive tract are not something you want to share if you're planning on getting lost in your snogging later in the night." Sirius still looked confused, then the answer dawned on him.

"Oh, you don't want to trump." She hated the slang term for passing gas.

"Yes, but I was attempting to be more delicate about it. I was raised with manners." They both laughed and comfortably enjoyed the starter and the delicate white wine Sirius had chosen to go with it. He'd selected different wines for each of the courses.

Next came the fish course, a lemon sole which had been poached in the same white wine Sirius was now serving. Junie marvelled at the hints of herbs, which didn't overpower the fish. Minsey knew what she was doing.

Next came the meat course, and Minsey had made heart-shaped, hand-raised pies filled with pork, carrots, and peas in a red wine reduction. The flaky pastry was the perfect counterpoint to the soft meat and vegetables. The wine Sirius served with it was a full-bodied red that tasted of currants and blackberries.

Finally, dessert was served; a pot of steaming chocolate and a tray of small choux buns, sponge cake in almond and chocolate flavours, strawberries, raspberries, and tiny macarons which were purple, and Junie suspected were lavender flavoured. A bottle of champagne came with it, and Sirius masterfully removed the cork with a 'pop' without spilling a drop.

"I don't usually drink this much," Junie said, taking a sip of the bubbling wine and then sighed. "This is amazing."

"Thank you," Sirius said softly before presenting her with a strawberry he'd dipped into the chocolate. She opened her mouth, and he slid the treat in. She closed her lips around the tiny tines of the dipping fork; there was something inherently sexual and intimate about the act. For the next few minutes, they alternated feeding one another and occasionally stopping to kiss. Junie didn't know if it was the wine or the act of being fed or how Sirius' kisses were tinged with chocolate and fruit juice, but she grew more aroused as each minute passed. She'd never felt like this before, and it was both exhilarating and shocking.

"Sirius, I've never experienced what I'm feeling now," Junie confessed. "It's like the more I get to know you, the more I need to know you."

"Oh, Junie, thank Merlin, you said that," Sirius answered. "I was afraid I might scare you off with how desperately I want to spend time with you. When you're not here, I feel lost. It's better when I know when and where our next meeting will be, but only just."

"I agree. I count the minutes until I can call you each night," she said, punctuating the sentence with a kiss. "Is this the binding? Is our Bond strengthening?"

"I believe so. I'm going to see the High Mages in the morning, and then I'm having lunch with Dumbledore tomorrow. I need to know if, because of our ages, the Bond is forming faster than it did for those who find out at seventeen and still have schooling to get through, or if we are just some odd exception."

"I wish I knew, and I'm anxious to hear what they have to say. Sirius, it's only been six weeks, but I feel like I've known you, this hidden part of you, forever." Sirius stroked her face and planted a gentle kiss on her lips.

"I feel the same way. When you're with me, I think I can feel your emotions; but I'm not sure. It might just be the overwhelming power of mine."

"I know, I feel the same way," Junie said. "Sirius, I think I –"

"Don't say it, not just yet," he interrupted her. "Come with me. Grab your glass." Junie did as she was directed, and he grabbed his and the bottle, holding them in one hand. He led her across the hallways to his bed-chamber. It wasn't a single room, but rather three connected across the house's side, over the informal sitting room.

The first room was a sitting area with a sofa, a wingback chair, and a lounger gathered around a fireplace. The second room was connected by an arch and was a dual library and office area. The walls were lined with well-used books and other trinkets, which must have meaning to the man whose rooms these were. There were large empty spaces, so he was able to expand the collection. Finally, furthest away, was a bed chamber with a large, canopied bed. The three rooms were done with dove grey walls, warm, medium green curtains, and accents in a creamy white. The overall effect was masculine without screaming that the owner was a guy using various mounted heads of large mammals.

"Sirius, these rooms are just so beautiful," Junie said appreciatively. "Who helped you with the colours?"

"Lily and Ginny," he said. "Ginny's help was a bit of a surprise. She was visiting Lily when I brought the designs over. I think she's seen enough with her brothers to know what works, what doesn't, and what, as she put it, 'she'd rip out the minute she moved in.'

"That sounds like Ginny," Junie said. "No wonder their home is so comfortable and inviting. She has a good eye for colours."

"Harry and Ginny were lucky, knowing who they were Bound to for their whole lives."

"I like knowing who I'm Bound to now," Junie said as she wrapped her arms around Sirius and leaned into his body. Sirius' arms went around her, and they stood holding one another.

"Come here," Sirius said, tipping his head to indicate the sitting area.
"I have something for you." They set down their glasses, next to a small, wrapped box that was already on the table.

"Oh, I have something for you too," Junie said, removing her wand from the pocket hidden in one of the pleats of her dress and Summoned the gold wrapped package from the table downstairs. It zoomed into the room and settled on Sirius' lap. "Who goes first?" she asked, and when he didn't answer, she directed him to start with her hand urging, go ahead.

Sirius slipped his fingers under the Spellotape at one end and broke the seal. When enough of the paper was pulled away, he slid out a thin box and opened it. Inside was a quill made from a black swan's feather with a silver tip on the end. When he examined it, Sirius saw his name and title etched on it.

"I figured you'd be writing more, and a quality quill would be helpful," Junie babbled. "I had no idea what to get you, and James laughed at me when I asked for help. Bloody prat."

"Junie, I love this. No one has ever bought me something this thoughtful. Thank you," he said. "It's going onto my desk at the Ministry." He kissed her thoroughly to ensure she knew how much he liked it. He also made a mental note to chastise James for his inconsiderate actions. "Here, this is for you," Sirius said, handing her the small box.

It was red velvet with golden trim, about two inches square. Lifting the lid, Junie found a beautiful pendant nestled against the cloth. A pair of gold hearts, their bulbous sides intertwined and made from one line, there was no beginning, no end, just two hearts intertwined. Where the two hearts linked, a pink stone was settled. "Sirius, it's so beautiful."

He took the box from her and release the chain from beneath the velvet. He then opened the clasp and placed it around her throat. The dress she wore was the perfect backdrop to the necklace. "It's a pink diamond I took from a ring my great-great-aunt, Lillian, had. She and her husband, Phineas, were nice people, an oddity in my family. If it wasn't for them, my uncle, Alphard, who gave me the money for my first place and the support of Andi, my cousin, I might not have been able to leave the abuse when I did."

"That it belongs to someone you cared about so much makes it all the more precious," Junie said. "Sirius Black, I'm falling in love with you. You have made me come alive in a way I didn't know I could."

"Juniper Meadows, I know I'm in love with you. No one has ever made me feel so much. When I'm with you, I'm complete." He then kissed her, and soon the couple was lost in a passionate snog.

The clock on Sirius' wall chimed eleven, and Junie broke away from Sirius, thinking she needed to gather herself to return to Hogwarts.

"Stay," he whispered as he peppered small kisses around her ear and neck. "I love you. Spend the night with me."

"I..I.." she stumbled.

"Not to have sex, we aren't ready. I want to hold you. I'm not ready to have you leave."

"Yes," Junie surrendered to his words and kisses. "I need to let Minerva know."

"Minsey," Sirius called his elf. When she arrived, he didn't make any effort to untangle himself from his love. "Please go to Hogwarts and alert Headmistress McGonagall that Junie will not be returning tonight, but she will be there to teach tomorrow."

"Yes, Master. Minsey is happy to have Mistress Juniper with us." Minsey popped out, and the couple was alone again.

"Did your elf just call me Mistress?"

"She did," Sirius said with a sly smile. "When you admitted you love me, the magic of her employment made you able to request her help on anything. She insists on master and mistress titles as a throwback to the old days. If it makes her happy, then it's fine with me." He kissed her again, then poured them each the last of the champagne, still cold from the charms on it. "To being in love."

"To being in love," Junie answered before clicking the glasses and swallowing the delicious vintage. "I do, Sirius. I love you." Sirius put his glass down and held her against him.

"Come, come to bed with me," he said when he finally did extricate himself and offered her his hand. Junie nodded and stood.

"One question, what am I going to wear?" she asked. Sirius replied with a cockeyed grin.