Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of the books' characters! They belong to J.K Rowling, so don't sue me!!

Summary: When Ron becomes engaged to Fleur Delacour, someone shows Hermione discovers that Ron may not be the guy for her after all

Rating: PG-13, may be changed to R

Note: The Acidation Curse and Twister Hex mentioned in this chapter are inventions of my own.

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Forbidden?

Chapter Four: Who?

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The first Defense Against the Dark Arts class for the students was on the following Thursday, a double lesson, and was - unfortunately - to be held with the Slytherins. But for the first time, Harry, Ron and Hermione didn't mind; they had decided it would be very interesting to see Sirius dealing with Malfoy and his cronies.

Hermione flopped down into her usual seat in that classroom, a wary eye on Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson, because she was sure they'd have something to say about Ron and Fleur. They said nothing to her, however, because Sirius chose that moment to stroll into the room.

"Isn't this interesting?" he drawled, taking in the two sides of the room with intelligent brown eyes. "Gryffindors and Slytherins, in my class at the same time? I think I'm beginning to remember why Professor Dumbledore rarely mixed you two houses up for a D.A.D.A class before."

There were a lot of chuckles from the Gryffindors at that, and even one unfortunate Slytherin was caught smirking. But the other Slytherins merely glowered at Sirius, most of them looking, much to Hermione's delight, rather frightened.

Sirius picked up his wand and went to the door, closing it behind him. "All right, so today, I'll be demonstrating a curse that is deadly and a hex that can be very dangerous when not used right. I'm already having second thoughts about teaching this particular group this," he added dryly, "But nevertheless, you need to know."

"The first," he began, going to the desk and picking up a chalkboard duster, "Is the curse. Very deadly, very sickening, very cruel. Anyone caught using it on anyone else will be sentenced to Azkaban." He said sharply, his eyes on Malfoy. "This is known as the Acidation Curse, and to show you, I need to have a live guinea pig." He sighed and transfigured the duster into a black rat.

It was an ugly thing, truly repulsive, so Hermione wasn't too distressed about the thought of it being killed cruelly. However, she glanced at Neville Longbottom, knowing he was always very sensitive to these kinds of things.

Sirius also seemed to know this, because he smiled at Neville reassuringly. "Don't worry, Neville, this rat is the kind that carries a plague. It's no loss, I promise."

Neville looked a little happier about it, and grinned gratefully at Sirius. The ex-prisoner of Azkaban lifted up the squirming rat so that it dangled between his fingers like a tail. He pointed his want at it and said: "Acidate."

"Oh!" Pansy Parkinson let out a squeal and even Lavender Brown (Gryffindor) seemed horrified.

Because the rat began to squeak piteously and shake with agony. Its skin was disintegrating before their very eyes, a frothing, melting mass that was sure to be the utmost cruelty of killing.

At last, the squirming stopped, and Sirius quickly transfigured the rat back into the duster, not wanting the students to see the rest of the acidation.

"Not nice," he muttered, dropping the duster back on the table. "But you need to be wary of this curse so that you know how to protect yourself. A simple Skin-Shield should do the trick."

They spent the next fifteen minutes practicing the Skin-Shield against less harmful spells, like the Pimply Curse or the one that made hives explode on one's face. At last, Sirius declared that they all had that one down, and they could proceed.

Getting back into their seats, they wondered what the upcoming hex was.

Sirius seemed to be looking just a little worried as he glanced around at all of them, and Harry began to wonder why. Sighing, his godfather leaned back against the desk, arms folded.

"Anyone here who's willing to put up with a little pain?" he asked dryly.

There was some laughter, but Hermione saw that Sirius' eyes were dead serious. The sniggering people seemed to realize it too, because the laughing abruptly stopped and there were round-eyed stares focused of Sirius.

Malfoy seemed to be having trouble breathing: "You're - you're not serious?"

"Oh, I am." Sirius smiled briefly at the fear on Malfoy's face. "Oh, don't worry, Malfoy, it won't kill you. Do you want to volunteer?"

Draco looked like he'd rather help Hagrid feed a Blast-Ended Skrewt than assist Sirius in this demonstration.

Hermione, Ron and Harry glanced at each other and then each of them said at the same time:

"I don't mind."

"I don't doubt that," Sirius smiled, "But Harry, this hex is a green- lighted one; it will make your scar burn unless you know how to block it, so I can't use you. And Ron," he added, "You might have to visit Madam Pomfrey after this hex, and I think she might hang me if you show up at her wing yet again - and in the first week of school too."

Harry and Ron both turned to look at Hermione.

She sighed, distinctly apprehensive. "I guess that leaves me." She stood up.

Sirius looked uneasy. "I'd rather not use you for this one, Hermione," he said, using her full first name for the first time in a long time.

"Why, Professor Black?" Malfoy demanded, grinning. "There's no need to be afraid of hurting the Mud-blood."

Perhaps it was only lucky for Malfoy that the Acidation Curse was illegal, because at that moment, he found himself faced with three powerful wands pointing at him, the faces of all their owners clearly wishing they could disintegrate him to nothing.

"Watch it, Malfoy." Sirius snapped. "Ten points from Gryffindor."

"Should have been fifty." Ron muttered to Harry, who nodded.

Hermione smirked. "So what do I have to do?" she was rather startled by the sudden display of protectiveness from Harry, Ron and especially Sirius.

"Well . . ." Sirius began reluctantly. "Just stand there and be prepared." He sighed and raised his wand. "Twixterus." He muttered.

A fierce pain grasped Hermione around the right arm as she felt it being force back. She tried to move her body along with it, but an invisible force was holding her in place and forcing her arm to twist extremely painfully.

Her eyes taking in Malfoy and Pansy's gleeful expressions, she forced herself by sheer willpower and experience of far worse pain, not to cry out.

As her shoulder dislocated, Sirius, his face very pale, broke the hex and released her from the spell.

She glanced up to meet his eyes, and saw true regret and pain in them.

For him, to spare him that guilt, she smiled. "That wasn't so bad." She chirped. "I think I need to get this shoulder re-socketed, though."

"Go on," Sirius gave her an apologetic smile. He turned to the Slytherins and added in a growl: "Malfoy, Ms Parkinson, you both are next."

***

"You, Hermione Granger, are the cause of at least a dozen of these gray hairs," Poppy Pomfrey heaved a sigh of long-suffering as she applied a Resocketing Potion to Hermione's shoulder and prepared to magic it back into place. "And let me inform you of the fact that your two friends are the cause of the rest."

Hermione couldn't help but giggle, despite the pain that was shooting up and down her harm. Her face was very pale from the strain, and she felt quite exhausted. Thank God Defense Against the Dark Arts was the last class of the day.

"Am I done, Madam Pomfrey?" she asked sweetly.

"Not yet, you aren't," Poppy grumbled good-naturedly, retrieving her wand from the hospital table nearby. "But you will be done for soon enough if you're not careful."

The door of the wing suddenly opened and a man walked in unceremoniously. Madam Pomfrey didn't even have to turn around to know the footsteps of the Boy Who Always Indulged in Reckless Activities to Injure Himself and Others and Make Her Grow Old Overnight.

Even Fred and George Weasely had not caused her such trouble, she reflected with a touch of amusement, and although James Potter had come close, he had been up to his tricks at the same time as his best friend.

"I should have known it was you," Poppy snorted, turning around after casting the spell. Hermione stood up, gingerly rubbing her shoulder and eyed Sirius with keen interest. "What have you got to say for yourself?"

At least he had the humility to grin sheepishly and lower his eyes to the floor.

"Some things don't change, do they, Professor Black?" the matron shook her head, smiling nonetheless, and turned away. "You'll be fine now, Hermione. I have to tend to a sick house-elf," and she left the room to go to the other side of the wing.

"Nice work." Hermione chuckled. "Don't look so guilty, Professor Black, it really wasn't that bad, and I'm fine now."

Sirius met her eyes, and she felt almost lost in the deep brown depths of them. "I really hated doing it," he confessed. "Sorry." He shook his head, smiling; "My godson and his best friend regarded me with some misgiving when you left."

"I'm flattered." Hermione muttered.

"You know, maybe you're just wasted on him," Sirius obviously decided another approach to making her feel better. "I'm sure there are other guys who want such a pretty, smart, sweet, brave - "

Hermione began to laugh, but couldn't help blushing slightly. "Careful, Sirius, remember you're supposed to be my teacher and my 'uncle'."

He smiled, but his tone was definitely serious and definitely husky when he mumbled: "Sorry, can't help it."

"What?" Hermione stared at him, not sure if she'd heard right.

There was no response, but his eyes locked with hers and it was as if a deep wave was reaching up and swallowing her whole. Swallowing her into a pool of chocolate and warmth and sizzling twinkling sparks . . . a place where she could find what she'd realized she was looking for.

Eternity stretched between them as she continued to gaze into his eyes and he into hers. Neither was able to look away; torment and fire crackling between them like an inferno.

Finally, reawakened by a small voice yelling in his head, Sirius jerked his eyes away and blinked, trying to clear the imprinted image of her, of her eyes.

"So - so what was I saying?" he asked rather shakily. "Yeah - uh - maybe Ron's not the one for you."

Hermione stared at him for a second, her mind whirling. As she replayed his words in her head, she realized later that the first thought that popped into her mind was:

- Ron who? -

** TBC.

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A/N: Please review and let me know; as you can see, some sparks already seem to be flying . . . more coming soon.