Remus was clenching the wheel as they drove on the highway. The man was annoyed and had flipped on the jazz station to calm himself. Sirius exhaled as he glanced through the paperwork, which was better than dealing with Remus's death stare when he would look over. It was bubbling, and Sirius could see it. He was pissed. However, it wasn't his fault; he had no clue that they would see her!
"Why? Why would you tell me who she is?" Remus spat. "I sounded like a bumbling idiot most of the day!"
Teddy leaned forward over his book. "Dad, she's really pretty."
Remus groaned. "I know, son."
Sirius set down a page and pursed his lips over at Remus. "How was I to know you were going to see her in a bookstore?"
"Sirius, I shouldn't have been told. You should have let me keep that separate," Remus hissed.
"Don't get grumbly with me because she found your son in a bookstore," Sirius retorted.
Remus smacked the steering wheel. "Jesus, then you go and push me to have dinner with her? Are you barmy? You're going to be her boss," he snapped.
"No, no, no," Sirius huffed. "I'm just an additional signature on the paperwork. I'll input what I want to see at the club, that's it."
"That's called co-ownership, Sirius. There's no getting around that. Regulus can run the club how he wants, but you are a part of that."
Sirius grimaced as he shuffled the paperwork. He was always the voice of reason. "Well, you can still go out with her. She seemed quite enthralled by your company."
"I don't think we should be talking about this now," Remus hummed as he glanced back at the curious boy. "How's your new manga?"
Teddy laced his finger together and cleared his throat. "The plot is very good, Dad."
"Good to hear," Remus sighed.
"Is Hermione going to be your girlfriend, Dad?"
Remus inhaled and shook his head. "No, Teddy. She's just being a nice girl. Nice doesn't always mean that a girl likes you more than a friend."
"You want to go see it tomorrow?" Sirius murmured. "I just asked Regulus what the theme was. It's delicious," Sirius snickered.
"What is it?" Remus sighed. He knew he should say no, but somehow it wouldn't summon from his lips.
"Torture Tuesday," Sirius breathed.
Remus winced and exhaled. "Jesus, Sirius. We can't. We have to worry about Teddy going to summer camp next week."
"I'll watch the kid," Sirius offered. "You can go with Regulus. Lockhart told me that our specific masks should be finished today. He told us we should be visiting more to establish a good rapport with the workers."
"I'm not an owner," Remus reminded him.
"No, but you're my V.I.P., and he knows that. He knows we're a packaged deal."
"I'm," Remus tried, but Sirius waved his hand.
"No, this would be fantastic. You can get an idea of what themes they do and help us see it from a customer's perspective. Everyone needs a voice of logic," Sirius urged while grinning over at Remus.
Remus shifted and hummed. "I don't know, Sirius."
"Regulus and I already agreed. You're going to get paid, Moony. We know you're the brains of our outfit. You deserve some fun."
"Dad, you should go have fun too!" Teddy agreed.
Remus twitched his nose and rolled his neck. "If I agree, will you leave well enough alone?"
"Yes," Sirius beamed.
"Then I'll go," Remus grumbled.
Sirius pulled out his phone and smirked. "I'll let Reggie know. He wanted to go, but not feel like a codger."
"Yeah, I'm sure," Remus grimaced. "I can relate."
Hermione was patting a towel on her neck as she walked inside her flat. Her music was a playlist of poppy upbeat songs to run to for her workout. Today was fantastic, and she forgot what it was like to enjoy someone's company. She was stretching out her thighs by gripping her ankle behind her and switching legs.
It was an odd experience. Why were those men so comfortable to be around? Remus was so honest about his feelings etched on his face. It was lovely. She had been around enough men who were always hiding their feelings. Sirius was charming and quite observant. He watched things around him and was able to keep his opinions to himself. She could sense it through their conversations.
Someone touched her arm, and Hermione jerked, pivoting to see Blaise smirking. Hermione yanked her earbuds out and breathed. "Damnit, Zabini, don't frighten me."
He was half-naked and scratching his clean tanned chest. It was a routine for Hermione to see Blaise in their flat, and they became cordial the more she lived with Pansy. He was this brother type that was parallel to how the Weasleys were. It was a bit insane that they went from hating each other in school, to becoming family due to a strip club. "Whatcha doing, S.C.?" He asked.
"I just got home from a run," Hermione huffed as she blotted her neck.
Blaise rested against the counter and folded his arms. "So, why were you humming? Get in a good shag today?"
Hermione was relieved; her cheeks were still red from running. "No shagging. I went out with some friends for lunch."
"Who's that? Harry? How's he doing?" Zabini questioned.
She shook her head and strolled to the sink and grabbed a glass to fill. "Well, no. Newer friends. I met them last weekend."
"Bartender in Shining armor?" Pansy asked as she came into the kitchen.
Hermione was swigging her water and glanced at the robed woman. "Seems someone got another workout in," she mused.
Pansy grinned as Zabini flexed. "You bet, S.C."
"The bartender? Please tell me you went out with that hot piece of hunky ass," Pansy groaned.
Hermione set down her towel and shrugged. "Well, originally, I was just shopping for books. Then this kid demands my attention, and I find out it's Remus's son."
Pansy clapped and gasped. "Oh! Does he have a son? Woah, fuck. Did you call him daddy and ask him to read you poems?"
Zabini scowled over at Pansy. "Wait, what's all this?"
Pansy waved and breathed. "She got drunk last week, and this hot older bartender took her home and let her recover without being fucked by some guy she was going hard for at the bar. He has a roommate who happens to be Remus. New news about the son, that explains a bit more about them."
Blaise grinned brightly and rubbed his hands together. "Now we're talking, Granger. Tell me, is he your type?"
Hermione groaned as she set down her glass. "He's a professor at uni. We were talking about philosophers today. Then Sirius shows up and pushes us to go out. I don't feel comfortable dating a man who might judge me for stripping, so I just suggested to go over there and cook for them. I'm going to Thursday."
Pansy squealed and cheered, revealing her naked body under the robe. "Yes! Oh, fuck, yes! I hope you fuck them both at the same time. Oh, Hermione, this is good!" She exclaimed.
Hermione waved her hands, and her face was beet red. "No, absolutely not. Sirius being there is safe. Plus, Teddy will be there, and I'll have an excuse to focus on him if things get awkward. I can't date anyone as long as my occupation is about taking off my clothes," Hermione retorted.
"Most men love dating strippers," Blaise snickered as he glanced at Pansy.
Pansy had fixed her robe and beamed. "Fuck, yes."
"No," Hermione pointed her index finger at them. "Most men love fucking strippers. Dating a stripper is difficult. Look at my last crash and burn years ago," Hermione sighed.
"He was a jealous idiot," Blaise retorted.
Hermione exhaled and shifted on her feet. "Well, he's the rule, not the exception. The rule is most men don't like watching their girlfriend take off her clothes for others."
Blaise glanced at Pansy, who was rolling her eyes. "You won't know unless you ask. It isn't like you give backroom handjobs. You don't finger yourself for men to gawk at. You're tasteful, and God knows men love you. Why the fuck do you resist so much?"
"Because it's ridiculous to think once a man finds out I'm a stripper for him not to go there. Not to see me as an object he must possess. He will think about it, see me in bed, and put the two of them in one fucked up imagery. There's a reason why I don't date. I can't deal with any more disappointments. There's no point to being intimate with someone who only sees me for what I project to be at work," Hermione finished and twitched her nose.
Zabini shook his head and waved. "Earth to Granger. The world is moving regardless of your resistance to it. It's time to stop manipulating the situation and actually let your guard down. S.C. is fantastic, she's sexy, unobtainable, fierce, but she isn't real. She's a fantasy. If a man can't see through that, then he's a fucking dumbass."
Hermione glanced down at the empty cup on the counter. Blaise did have the ringing of truth in his words. It just was so hard to let go of it and just open up with someone. She thought she had her happily ever after years ago, only to be beaten and bruised from it after.
"I'm just tired of being let down," Hermione confessed.
"Then be honest and upfront. Let them decide if they can handle it," Blaise agreed.
"Them?" Hermione gasped. "No, not," she stopped when Pansy cackled.
"Oh, yes! Both of them. Please do it for me? I had a giant girl-stiffy for that bartender for the last week. If you fuck him, I'd be happy!"
Blaise glared at her and puffed. "He couldn't have been that good looking."
"He was," Hermione smirked.
"Mr. Salt and Pepper. God, he was a handsome bugger. I'd call him daddy and bounce on his lap," Pansy teased.
Zabini crossed his arms and huffed. "Don't be a bitch. He isn't better looking than me."
Hermione glanced over at the window and sighed. "What am I doing? This is not what I want to think about before Thursday."
"Then just let it go," Blaise shrugged.
"I'll try," Hermione hummed. "Pansy, did you get the riding crop I asked for?"
Pansy's grin grew as she nodded. "Oh, yes. And those long boots. They're already ready for use and sitting in your room. You know, it's crazy to me that you take your clothes off all the time, but you're still embarrassed to walk into a sex shop."
Hermione tilted her head and exhaled. "It's just not my style."
"Vibrators and some happy time help," Blaise noted.
"Duly noted," Hermione grumbled.
"Sex, Granger. It's just sex. I suggest you start having some soon. It looks like you need it," Zabini snickered.
Hermione huffed and scrubbed her face. "I'll think on it."
"Speaking of sex, are you ready? I have an hour until I have to go get ready," Pansy purred as she stroked Zabini's arm.
He growled and lifted the woman over his shoulder. "Have fun, S.C.!" Blaise shouted as they left the kitchen.
Hermione snagged up the towel and wrung it in her fingers. She knew they were right, but it didn't take away the facts. You need to be able to connect with someone to enjoy it. Oh, what a bugger of a thing.