Author's Note: *ducks from any flying objects heading my way* I am sooooo sorry that this chapter is so long overdue. I was on a closing schedule with my job forever (3-midnight my time) and then I moved to a morning schedule so I've been extremely drained lately and couldn't get any inspiration. But then-ironically-my former youth pastor posted a plot bunny in the Firewhiskey and Honey group on Facebook and it sparked something in me and brought out this chapter. It is a little shorter than originally planned buttt I think it was perfectly what I wanted anyway. I don't know when the next chapter will be out, but I do know that it shouldn't be AS long before I post. Also, I'm going to work on posting this on AO3 as well to expand but I'm still getting used to their format so who knows when that will be. Thank you everyone who is returning, please forgive me.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, blah blah blah but I do own Sirius and Hermione is staying at my house until Saturday…no really my dog is Sirius, and my best friend just named her dog Hermione and I'm dog sitting this week.

Chapter 7: Without You

In the weeks and months that passed, the repaired friendship between Hermione and Sirius grew. They wrote each other daily, with midweek Floo Calls and met every Saturday for dinner at the Three Broomsticks. Sundays they had family dinner with Harry and Ginny at Potter Cottage. Life went on, and Hermione was slowly letting her feelings for Sirius Black resurface. Through the week until their weekly dinner Hermione felt like she lived in a world of gray, but when she saw Sirius, it was like the world was filled with colors again. They hadn't touched since their talk at the Broomsticks, other than a few stolen touches when she passed him in the doorway in and out of the pub every week.

It was the week before Easter Holidays and Hermione had arrived at the pub early so that she could see Ron and Lavender and baby Rose. Lavender had gone into Labor during a family party at The Burrow before Christmas and while she was okay in the end it had been rough. She'd only just gotten back to work after a few months recovering, and Hermione had taken time off work to help her when Ron was no longer able to.

"There's Mione's girl," Hermione smiled taking Rose from Ron. "I'd just take you home with me if your mumma would let me."

The tiny baby just grinned a gummy smile back at her, the two teeth she had so far on display.

"I'll let you next time she's teething," Lavender shook her head, pulling her curls up into a ponytail. "That one on the back was a nightmare."

Hermione laughed. "I'll be happy to."

"You here for your weekly date with Sirius?" Lavender asked, smiling as she sat Butterbeers on the bar in front of both Hermione and Ron.

"It isn't a date," Hermione rolled her eyes. "But yes, I am. Just thought I'd come early."

"So, are you all not dating again?" Ron raised an eyebrow at her.

"Just friends," Hermione replied. "We'll see in the future about the other. Right now, no."

"Hello beautiful," Sirius' said with a smile as he approached the bar a bouquet of cream-colored roses with a blush of pink around the tips half an hour later. "Don't you look adorable today?"

Hermione opened her mouth to respond to him that she was an adult and not adorable, but he'd taken baby Rose from her arms, replacing them with the flowers and kissed one of her round cheeks.

"Hello Hermione," He winked at her. "You look beautiful as well."

She laughed. "I agree, Rose looks quite adorable today too."

"Normally not one for a redhead but there is just something about one who is so happy to see me." He smiled, handing Rose over to Ron who had gathered Rose's things to head home.

"She does love Uncle Sirius," Ron agreed as Lavender stepped around the bar to kiss him and Rose before they left. "We'll see you tomorrow at Potter Cottage yea?"

"Wouldn't miss it." Sirius agreed.

"Go on to your usual table," Lavender told them. "I'll bring your food around in just a few minutes, it was almost done."

Sirius raised an eyebrow at Hermione as she stood, and she shrugged. "Lavender is trying a new roast chicken recipe for the kitchens, so I told her we'd be happy to try it."

He nodded and she followed him to the table, smiling as he pulled the chair out for her. Her hand brushed against his as she sat down and he stiffened, not wanting her to know just how much the small touch affected him, his whole body was on fire wanting more. She bit her lip as she sat, trying to ignore the electric current she felt coursing through her veins. The skin where they'd touched almost had a stinging feeling for them both at the absence.

"How was work?" Sirius asked as he sat across from her, smiling when she pulled a vase from her bag-that still held undetectable extension charms-and filled it with water to keep her flowers fresh.

"Same old same old. I'm starting to miss the veil; my new assignment is pretty boring to be honest." She admitted.

"They won't let you go back?" He asked, cocking his head to the side. He assumed that with her success in pulling him back that she could have whatever assignment she wanted.

"Unfortunately, no," She shook her head. "They're um pretty unhappy with me right now. I'm lucky that I wasn't sacked."

"What happened?" He asked.

She sighed, but knew she needed to reveal her own wrong doings to Sirius. It was well past time. "When I returned to work after we broke up, I asked to be moved to another assignment because I couldn't stand looking at the veil anymore. They told me no because my work was too valuable and…well."

Hermione's hair sparked with electricity and she felt it crack off the tips of her fingers and toes as well.

"What do you mean no? I've worked my ass off for you, Zelda. I've given every ounce of energy to this fucking veil that I can, and I can't do it anymore. I need a break from it. I regret EVER using my work to bring Sirius Black back to the land of the living and I refuse to look at the thing that did it anymore."

"Miss Granger, I am your superior and while I understand that you are hurting you are not going to speak to me this way. You are going to work this assignment until I tell you otherwise."

"Fine," She seethed, pulling her wand from the holster at her waist. "Then I'll make sure there is no veil to research. A simple explosion charm should do the trick right? "

Zelda disarmed her immediately and glared. "Do you want to be sacked? I can gladly do so."

"Move me to the space room. To the brains. Time room. I. Don't. Care. I'm not staying in this room another minute." Hermione was still sparking in anger.

"What's going on?" Kingsley walked in the room, having been checking on research in the time room and heard the commotion.

"Minister great timing." Zelda sighed. "Miss Granger needs to be escorted out. She's threatening to blow up the veil. Can you call on the aurors?"

"What's wrong Hermione?" Kingsley asked softly, knowing that by the electricity visible on Hermione's person that calm was the best way to go. Not the harshness Zelda was showing.

"I don't want to see the thing that brought Sirius Black back to life ever again and she refuses to move me." Hermione was near tears, and the lamps around the room were flashing on and off.

"Move her where she wants to go Zelda, or it will be your job. Don't torture the girl, she's done plenty in this area." Kingsley returned her wand and went on his way.

"You regretted bringing me back?" Sirius frowned.

"I did," She couldn't look at him. "I'm sorry. I don't anymore."

"I'm sorry for everything I did Hermione, I never wanted you to hurt like this." He reached out and took her hand in his.

"You don't need to apologize to me again Sirius," She finally met his eyes and squeezed his hand. "I've forgiven you, but it's time you knew about my own demons. I know you were a drunk during our…separation but so was I. I was just much better at hiding it. I don't remember a single night that I didn't get completely drunk and go to bed crying. I've felt…so much better since we started being friends again."

He sighed. "I'm glad that we were able to reconcile. I missed you so much Hermione. You don't even know how much."

She smiled at him as Lavender brought their food around. The rest of the evening they kept to lighter topics and laughed about the Langford kids' antics-he had dubbed them the Weasley twins of the decade. After dinner, they went outside, and Sirius walked her to the apparition point her hand held in his. He felt as giddy as he did way back in third year when he'd walked Marlene McKinnon to her dorm after a date to Madam Puddifoot's in Hogsmeade, the first time he held a girl's hand.

"When I'm back at Grimmauld during the holiday, would you like to come over and I'll cook dinner? You know…a date?" Sirius asked softly.

Hermione hesitated and before she could answer Sirius cut back in. "I'm sorry, that's too soon. Forgive me."

She laughed softly and kissed his cheek. "I would love to have dinner with you-a date Sirius. I'm ready to give this another go."

He sighed in relief. "Thank Merlin."

She laughed. "I'll see you then, you just owl me the date and time."

He kissed her forehead. "I'll let you know as soon as I can. I can't wait."

She smiled and as he released her hand, she turned on the spot and apparated to her apartment.

By the following afternoon before they departed Potter Cottage, Sirius had a time set so when Thursday at 7 rolled around Hermione was waiting on his doorstep a bottle of Elf Wine in her arms. She had used Sleekeazy's Hair Potion, so her hair was in softer curls and pulled back in a loose ponytail. She wore a black camisole with a shimmery black jacket opened overtop, with a pair of tight jeans and boots. She'd also put on more makeup than a usual day, having adopted a new style when she wasn't working at the ministry of a smokey eye look that brought out her brown eyes and some dark lipstick.

"You look stunning," Sirius breathed as he opened the door for her. "Absolutely beautiful."

Hermione's cheeks turned crimson with his praise, and she grinned at him. "No so bad yourself, Professor Black."

Sirius chuckled, realizing he was still in his professor's robes. He'd apparated to the house and started dinner immediately after he arrived, having sent Remus after groceries the previous day. "Sorry love, I had a meeting, so I was in a rush to get home. Come on in and make yourself comfortable, and I'll run upstairs and change, dinner is almost done."

She smiled. "Okay, no problem."

She followed him inside and veered to the library where she settled on the couch with a book she'd been reading so long ago before she left Grimmauld Place the last time.

Sirius returned just a few minutes later, wearing a pair of jeans and a black t-shirt. He had also put on a black leather cuff that James bought him for Christmas the year before he and Lily went into hiding, which had the Marauder's names etched into it-he'd removed Wormtail years ago and replaced his name with Lily and Harry.

He crossed his arms over his chest as he watched her for a moment reading, smiling as he remembered happier times of her reading with her head in his lap as he read his own book.

"I'm back," He told her after a moment. "You're welcome to borrow that book by the way. If you'd like."

She smiled, placing the ribbon bookmark back into the book and standing. "Thank you, Sirius."

He held his hand out to her and she took it, following him to the kitchen.

Laid out on the table were all her favorites: roast chicken, boiled potatoes, greens to name a few and for dessert he'd picked up tiramisu from the bakery around the corner she loved.

"I hope everything tastes alright…I've never been the best cook, but I had Molly and Lavender send me some tips and a recipe or two." Sirius rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet nervously.

"I'm sure it is perfect, truly. Thank you." She stood on her toes and kissed his cheek.

"It's so nice…having you here again," Sirius told her as he pulled out a chair for her. "It feels like home again."

She smiled as she sat down, and he served her from the dishes on the table. "It is nice being here…my flat hasn't felt like home even though it used to feel so…perfect."

"I'll admit, Grimmauld Place will never feel completely comfortable, I think. Not after the abuse my parents handed out here but with you here…it feels that way."

"Maybe when you are home for the summer holidays, we can gut the place and fix it up with all new furnishings…just leave my library mostly alone." She suggested, stabbing a potato with her fork.

He chuckled. "Your library huh?"

She shrugged but grinned at him. "I would say so, since I'm the one that frequents it the most wouldn't you?"

He shook his head, smiling at her. "I suppose you're right, Madam Granger. We'll leave it mostly alone but get you new furniture. Would you like new shelves or just new seating?"

"I can clean what is there, we'll just transfigure it to change some colors. Add some lighting and maybe we can run electricity in this place to have electric lights." She mused.

"If you'd like it, we can do that. Just not sure how we'd go about it with muggle repelling charms, technically this house doesn't exist. Don't they bill you for that sort of thing?"

She hummed softly. "I'll look into it. I'm sure there is some way to make it happen."

They spent the rest of the evening talking about their plans outside of renovations during the summer, cute things James had done during their visits and continuing to catch up on lost time. After dinner, they went to the living room and Hermione leaned into his side as they talked with her feet up on the couch in front of her. The puzzle pieces finally fit together, and everything felt right with her in his arms.

"Hermione?' Sirius murmured into her hair, it was getting late well past midnight and he wasn't sure where the night would go.

"Yea?" She looked up at him and bit her lip.

"Do you want to stay the night? No pressure, it may be too soon. I'm just not ready for you to go and I'm sure you're getting tired." He kissed her forehead.

"I'd like to, just nothing…too fast. Just hold me tonight like in the beginning?" She asked.

"Of course," He promised. "Nothing that we're not ready for Hermione."

They stayed up a little longer talking and when she started yawning, he carried her up the stairs, making her laugh. He handed her a pair of pajama pants with Snitches all over them and a t-shirt and stepped into the bathroom to let her change in privacy while he also put on a pair of pajama pants as well.

He knocked on the door a few minutes later and she let him in. His breath caught, because even in his too big pajamas she looked beautiful. Maybe even more so. She'd taken off her makeup while he was gone as well, and he couldn't resist reaching up to trace her lips.

"Beautiful." He whispered.

She blushed. "Sirius…"

He stepped closer. "Is kissing you faster than you're ready for?"

She shook her head, looking up at him. "No."

"Good, because I want to, but I want you to be comfortable." He put his hand on her cheek and leaned down, bringing his lips to hers.

Hermione could feel electric current in every inch of her body. Like when she was extremely angry as she had been a lifetime ago in the Department of Mysteries, but this time she was completely happy. Kissing Sirius had always been amazing, but kissing Sirius now somehow felt different but in the best way possible. She wasn't sure if it was how long it had been since or if it was the change in Sirius. But she was glad she wouldn't have to give this up again.

Sirius felt much the same, kissing Hermione was still like drinking the best vintage of firewhiskey but there was something deeper there. Somehow, he knew that it was because of him, that he was surer he was worthy of her now. They'd built their relationship back with the "new him" and this Sirius wasn't haunted by his past any longer.

"Wow," Hermione murmured as he pulled away to let her breath. "I can't believe how much I'd been missing that and it's somehow better."

He chuckled. "I have to agree my love. I'd missed you."

She stood on her tip toes and kissed him again softly. "More addictive than firewhiskey I think."

He smiled, threading his fingers through hers and held them up to kiss the back of her hand. "You have no idea, my love. No idea at all how addicted I am to you."

She laughed, squeezing his fingers gently. "Look at that difference. I'm not a tiny girl but you make me look like one."

While his hand was much larger than hers, and tougher skinned because of the life he'd lived and hers tiny with soft skin their hands fit together perfectly.

"You do look awful tiny and fragile," He agreed with a smile. "But I know better. You'd hex my ass if I were on your bad side."

She giggled. "Who knows? Maybe I already did, or at least did something to mess with you when you were. I mean didn't you wonder why after I left all of your trousers were suddenly too short?"

He gaped at her. "That was you? I thought for sure Remus or Harry did it, but they never would admit anything."

She shrugged with a smirk on her face. "I was devastated and all but before I finished packing, I took the time to shorten all of your trouser legs, the sleeves of your robes and long-sleeved shirts, tighten them all just a tiny bit to make them fit but not entirely comfortably. I also shrunk one of each pair of socks. Petty revenge but I couldn't bear to physically hurt you, so I wanted to torment you just a bit."

He bent over because he was laughing so hard. His Hermione was a very serious woman who from his understanding did not put up with pranks as she grew up but when she wanted to be the one to pull them it was better than anything he could have thought up.

"It took me weeks to undo that Hermione. WEEKS! I was so sure it was Remus or one of the twins, but I should have known with magic that good it was you. I fully deserved it and I'm honestly about to cry I'm so proud of you for that one."

She laughed too, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I had to, I kept thinking of anything that would mildly be annoying to me."

He kissed her forehead. "I'll remember that, so I know to stay on your good side."

He pulled the blankets down for her, and she climbed in and scooted to the other side patting the bed behind her for him to climb in. When he did, he put his arm around her and pulled her close them both melting together with a soft sigh.

"This is what I was missing at my apartment, this is what home feels like. You are my home Sirius, wherever you are is home." Hermione said softly.

He kissed the top of her head. "I completely agree Hermione. You are my home too."

"Nox," She said softly waiving her wand before sitting it on the bedside table beside her and shifted back into his arms fully as the lights went out. "Goodnight Sirius."

He kissed her cheek. "Goodnight Hermione, my love."

And with that, they fell asleep almost immediately with the best night's sleep they'd had in so long.

Reviews are appreciated, even if you want to tell me how much I suck for not updating for so long I'd love to hear your thoughts. I would also like to say thank you for all the love that this story has received, I never thought it was as popular as it has been. I know it isn't the VERY BEST fanfiction out there, but I have…108 of you following it, 43 favs and 19 reviews as of this moment and I never expected that in a million years. THANK YOU!