A/N

Hi there fellow Potterheads!
Just FYI, this is my first attempt at a fanfic, so please don't be too harsh on me. However, I do appreciate your honest opinion and feedback :)

I don't own anything you recognize! So.. nothing really. Sad.

I hope you enjoy the story!

X- MoaningMyrthe95

Chapter 1

Sirius knew he was in trouble.

It wasn't even that long ago since he had seen her, had it? Just before the summer holidays began, in fact. Though he had been rather preoccupied then, what with Voldemort coming back and Harry in such distress, not to mention the Diggory kid dying.. It was no wonder he hadn't taken the time to stop and stare, like he was doing now.

She had always amazed him. He figured he was suffering from some sort of heroine complex in his admiration, after all she had saved his life back in her third year. Although paralyzed with shock and fear back then, he had had plenty of time since then to appreciate her look of determination and fierceness as she blasted open the door of his cell. He'd had plenty of time to realize that she must be deemed exceedingly clever and trustworthy to have been given a time-turner. He'd had plenty of time to ponder how cute she was trying not to scream her head off on the back of that hippogriff. He now knew she hated flying. She'd done it though, for him.

When he fled, he was determined not to let his mind dwell on her. She was only fourteen after all, just a kid. Sure, he thought about her when Harry spoke of her in his letters, and had come to appreciate her above all others in Harry's life. She had been there for him through it all last year, from helping him with summoning charms to volunteering to be stunned over and over again just so Harry could practice.
The boys had not always repaid her friendship in kind, that much was clear to Sirius already in their third year. He had wondered if it pained him more that it did Harry and Ron that a gift he had sent his godson had caused her such neglect from her friends. Especially since she had been right in her theory that the Firebolt was sent by him.
Last year, again, it had been Ron to pick a fight, though from what Harry had written to him Sirius gathered this was out of jealousy. Well, he could understand that. When he'd read Harry's letter, in which only the briefest mention of Hermione's date with Viktor Krum was made (the rest of it was made up of talk about Hagrid, Madame Maxime and bloody Rita Skeeter), his insides had turned to ice. Imagining what her night might have been like with a very interested international quidditch player by her side, it had taken him days to put things back into perspective. Harry needed him, his guidance, his advice. There was no point dwelling on what may or may not have happened during the Yule ball, and he had told himself so many times that he hoped she'd had a wonderful time, he almost believed it.

That damn beetle didn't make matters any easier on him. As she reported on Krum's feelings being professed to Hermione, or Hermione hurting Harry's feelings as she was 'toying with both boys affections', Sirius quelled himself with thoughts about how he could never act on his own feelings for her. He had never been more relieved than when Harry had written about his frustrations of the Skeeter woman and the lies she spread. It was bad enough that he saw her this way, but to have to compete for her affections with his own godson..

Not that he could actually compete at all. He had absolutely nothing to offer her. He was nearing his forties, she was barely 16. Well, almost 17 if he counted the extra time during her year with the time-turner. And he had calculated it. The 12 most likely scenarios of the amount of time she used the device, anyway. Merlin, he had way too much idle time being cooped up here in Grimmauld Place. If only Dumbledore would allow him to go out sometime and make himself useful.. He kept up a routine of reading, working out and tending to Buckbeak while he lived there alone. He'd done enough wallowing in self pity in his years in Azkaban and refused to do so any longer.

Now that Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix was stationed here the atmosphere had transformed from his lonely reminiscence into that of a warm family gathering. He did his best to make everyone feel welcome and comfortable, even Snivellus. NO, Severus, he corrected himself. Dumbledore wanted them to get on, and they had agreed to try. Besides, he was a godparent now, a duty he took most seriously. He needed to set a good example for Harry.

Additionally, Sirius figured that the Order members might want to stay longer if he made sure they were comfortable at Grimmauld Place. They would be content, he would be less lonely: it was a win-win situation. Thus, he'd been cleaning up after Mundungus, vacuuming the smoke from Dung's pipe with his wand - he knew how Molly hated the smell - when he saw her standing in the doorway.

He stared as Weasley after Weasley came up to hug her, to inquire after her parents and her summer. The light blue of her sundress contrasted beautifully with her tanned skin. Slowly he walked forwards, only remembering to cancel the vacuuming spell when a number of notes still on the table from the last Order meeting nearly hit him in the face. Banishing them as Ginny stepped aside, he finally spoke.

"Hermione."

She met his eyes and her face lit up in a warm smile.

"Sirius!" How he could be surprised after the elaborate display of hugs just moments ago, he did not know. Still, he could barely keep his footing as she flung herself at him in a violent hug, standing only on her tiptoes. "It's so good to see you!"

"That it is, Kitten." He muttered as he held her tightly against him, both of his arms around her.

"You're just in time for dinner, dear", Molly interrupted. "Ginny, why don't you show Hermione to your room while Fred and George help me set the table. You don't mind sharing with Ginny again, do you dear?" she asked.

"Of course not Mrs. Weasley! We'll be right back, I just want to bring up my trunk and Crookshanks' carrier. Although, I would like a proper tour of the house later, if that's alright?" Hermione inquired, looking at him hopefully.

"I suppose I could spare some time to show you around, love." He winked. She smiled in response, then turned to follow Ginny out of the kitchen and up the stairs.