A/N: Well I've had several reviews so far, which makes me happy, but I
thought I'd address a few comments. One reviewer noted that my age for
Lupin wasn't quite accurate so I subtracted about 7 years. Another
requested that I not make my characters fall in love too quickly...I see
their point and I'll do my best but a few things have to be explained.
First, Sirius is a very attractive older man and love or not, Hermione is
certainly going to be attracted to him. And second...Sirius himself is quite
smitten, though perhaps more by an idea than anything else...as to be
explained later. I hope you guys understand. On to the story...
"Why Moony, my old friend, whatever are you talking about?" Sirius asked, leaning back in his chair, his face a picture of innocence.
Remus Lupin, aka 'Moony' growled. "You know very well what I'm talking about Sirius. What's gotten into you? Assaulting the girl like that?" Remus shook his head, disbelief thick in his voice as he entered the kitchen "I mean, I know you're a--a horn dog, and Merlin knows you haven't had much luck with women lately...but she's just a child! What if that was her first kiss?! Sirius!"
Sirius scowled at his old friend. Trust him to bring up a very sensitive subject. Azkaban was certainly not the type of place where conjugal visits were allowed. And since his escape he'd been marked as a dangerous criminal in both the wizarding and the muggle worlds. It was true, so many years without...companionship...were hard, but that was not the matter at hand. He was about to say so when Lupin interrupted him again.
"In the muggle world, the world Hermione comes from, what you have planned is completely illegal!" He was now right in front of Sirius, pointing his finger and shaking his head. "And it's not terribly accepted in our world either you know! You're just going to hurt her, poor innocent thing, and once you're done with her..."
Sirius had had enough. Jumping to his feet he smacked Remus's accusing finger away. "It's not like that Lupin. It's different...it's her!"
Momentarily confused, Remus's eyes widened when he finally understood just which "her" his friend had been referring to. "Padfoot! Have you gone mad? It's impossible that was...over 20 years ago. They can't be the same person. Maybe a distant relative or...I admit the resemblance is uncanny..." He fell into a chair in astonishment as Sirius's accusation sunk in. "It can not be."
Sirius gave a grim smile. "Yes it can. 'Uncanny resemblance'? Don't be so thick. They're identical! And it's not just that. Their personalities, their voices. Merlin man! Their scents! And that name?"
"Coincidence." Lupin muttered, still shaking his head. "I don't believe it." Suddenly, a creak sounded from the next room, startling the two and causing them to draw further into the kitchen and lower their voices.
Hermione sat on the bottom step, listening carefully. Frankly, she agreed with Professor Lupin. Just what did Sirius think he was doing?! Kissing her like that...of all the nerve. Then she snorted as Lupin brought up another point. Well Sirius certainly wasn't her first kiss! But at least the others had asked...or hinted! Not that he wasn't attractive... terribly attractive actually, but it was just wrong. He was Harry's godfather! And, Azkaban or no, records would show that he was old enough to be her father. As for this girl they were talking about, that was too much information to absorb in one night, so she stored it away for later assessment.
She shifted slightly, suddenly uncomfortable with the memory of the kiss. The step under her squeaked and she jumped up, afraid of being discovered, and ran back to her bedroom, diving under the covers and falling asleep quickly with the thought that it had all been a mistake, or a dream...albeit a strange one.
When the pair realized no one was coming, Sirius put a silencing charm around them and continued.
"Believe what you want Remus. I admit, I had my doubts at first. When I saw her two years ago, I almost died of the shock. Even then there were similarities. The compassion, the intelligence...and yes, the looks. But I kept telling myself it was all just a figment of my imagination, that I was going as insane as everyone said I was. But...Moony, since then we've had so much time to get to know each other. And while I still doubted, it was beginning to seem more and more likely...that's why I kissed her. I had to know! I had to!" Sirius ran his hand through his hair again, looking upset.
Lupin sighed, placing his fingers on his temples and moving them in a help me."
Sirius threw his hands up in frustration. "Then you kiss her! You did once! You must remember..." then realizing what he said he growled and glared at his friend. "Nevermind. Don't even try it."
Lupin barked a laugh. "Still touchy ey Padfoot? Ok fine...but how do you explain the twenty year age difference?"
Sirius shrugged, as if the answer should have been as plain as the mustache on Remus's face. "Time travel. It's the only way."
Remus choked and sputtered before finally getting out his words. "T-time travel? Are you mad?! Of all the arts of the Wizarding World, that's one that only a few very powerful, legendary wizards and witches were able to accomplish. Gryffindor, Slytherin. Merlin! I don't know if even Dumbledore could do it...how could this 16 year old...ok yes, a very talented, intelligent 16 year old," he added, seeing Sirius' eyebrows raise, "but still, how could she?"
"It's the only way Moony. It's the only way. I can't come up with anything else...and here's the terrible part...however it is she got there...she has to do it soon. My memories of her are being transparent sort of. I'm sure if you sort through yours you'll see the same thing. And it's not just age man. If I could remember her in Azkaban I should remember her now. And look!" Sirius turned around, showing his broad back. "Do you see those faint red lines?" He asked, looking over his shoulder. "You remember what those were don't you?"
Lupin's eyes easily adjusted to the kitchen, one of the rare positive side effects of his were-blood, and eyed Sirius' back "Scars, from her." Lupin whispered, nodding. (A/N: Don't be kinky now!) "But time does heal all wounds, even those dreadful things..." Lupin, like any wizard or witch, had a natural dislike for scars (well, any wizard besides Dumbledore, who was rather fond of the map of the London underground scar on his knee), mostly because they so rarely had them. Magical treatment was almost always an option.
"Lupin, you know, as well as I do, that those things were just as noticeable six months ago when I moved into this place as they were when I first got them. My shirt was off, I was exercising. You commented on how horrible they were. Remember?"
Lupin did but he wasn't giving up that easily. "Yes of course but...it's just not logical Sirius." He sighed, resting his temple between his fingers again.
"Damn your logic man! I'm telling you what I know!" He shouted, turning about to face Remus again.
"Fine fine..." Lupin said, patronizing and motioned for Sirius to settle down. "Assuming you're right. And both our Hermiones are the same person...why not wait a few years until it's more appropriate? I mean, you waited for so many already..."
Sirius did sit, slumping in his chair as if defeated. "Because I did wait for so many. Being around her like this...it hurts Remus." He placed a hand over his heart for emphasis. "And the fact that our memories and my scars are fading indicates to me that she really does need to soon. I think that something I do triggers her journey. Expressing myself to her now is the best I can come up with."
Lupin smirked. "Are you sure it's not just that she's running from you?" "Aye, that may be, but I'd have to chase her first either way." Sirius replied, smirking back momentarily, but then his frown returned.
"Look old friend, I won't force the girl to do anything. You know that. But I can't keep away from her. I just can't." His eyes were dark but Lupin knew that Sirius was fixated, and nothing could changes his mind. He sighed at the rising sun coming through the window.
"Try my friend. But for now, let's get at least a few hours of sleep." He rose and patted his friend on the shoulder before heading off to bed, trying to digest the night's events.
Sirius sat for a few moments longer before heading off to his own bed. He momentarily paused at the entrance to the girl's room and smiled softly as he saw Hermione's sleeping figure, a small smile playing across her lips. "Happy dreams" he whispered as he tiptoed out and quietly shut the door.
A/N: Ok Ok I know it's not that long but I decided that if you want me to update frequently you'll just have to deal with shorter chapters because I have school and work and boyfriend...etc etc. R/R everyone.
"Why Moony, my old friend, whatever are you talking about?" Sirius asked, leaning back in his chair, his face a picture of innocence.
Remus Lupin, aka 'Moony' growled. "You know very well what I'm talking about Sirius. What's gotten into you? Assaulting the girl like that?" Remus shook his head, disbelief thick in his voice as he entered the kitchen "I mean, I know you're a--a horn dog, and Merlin knows you haven't had much luck with women lately...but she's just a child! What if that was her first kiss?! Sirius!"
Sirius scowled at his old friend. Trust him to bring up a very sensitive subject. Azkaban was certainly not the type of place where conjugal visits were allowed. And since his escape he'd been marked as a dangerous criminal in both the wizarding and the muggle worlds. It was true, so many years without...companionship...were hard, but that was not the matter at hand. He was about to say so when Lupin interrupted him again.
"In the muggle world, the world Hermione comes from, what you have planned is completely illegal!" He was now right in front of Sirius, pointing his finger and shaking his head. "And it's not terribly accepted in our world either you know! You're just going to hurt her, poor innocent thing, and once you're done with her..."
Sirius had had enough. Jumping to his feet he smacked Remus's accusing finger away. "It's not like that Lupin. It's different...it's her!"
Momentarily confused, Remus's eyes widened when he finally understood just which "her" his friend had been referring to. "Padfoot! Have you gone mad? It's impossible that was...over 20 years ago. They can't be the same person. Maybe a distant relative or...I admit the resemblance is uncanny..." He fell into a chair in astonishment as Sirius's accusation sunk in. "It can not be."
Sirius gave a grim smile. "Yes it can. 'Uncanny resemblance'? Don't be so thick. They're identical! And it's not just that. Their personalities, their voices. Merlin man! Their scents! And that name?"
"Coincidence." Lupin muttered, still shaking his head. "I don't believe it." Suddenly, a creak sounded from the next room, startling the two and causing them to draw further into the kitchen and lower their voices.
Hermione sat on the bottom step, listening carefully. Frankly, she agreed with Professor Lupin. Just what did Sirius think he was doing?! Kissing her like that...of all the nerve. Then she snorted as Lupin brought up another point. Well Sirius certainly wasn't her first kiss! But at least the others had asked...or hinted! Not that he wasn't attractive... terribly attractive actually, but it was just wrong. He was Harry's godfather! And, Azkaban or no, records would show that he was old enough to be her father. As for this girl they were talking about, that was too much information to absorb in one night, so she stored it away for later assessment.
She shifted slightly, suddenly uncomfortable with the memory of the kiss. The step under her squeaked and she jumped up, afraid of being discovered, and ran back to her bedroom, diving under the covers and falling asleep quickly with the thought that it had all been a mistake, or a dream...albeit a strange one.
When the pair realized no one was coming, Sirius put a silencing charm around them and continued.
"Believe what you want Remus. I admit, I had my doubts at first. When I saw her two years ago, I almost died of the shock. Even then there were similarities. The compassion, the intelligence...and yes, the looks. But I kept telling myself it was all just a figment of my imagination, that I was going as insane as everyone said I was. But...Moony, since then we've had so much time to get to know each other. And while I still doubted, it was beginning to seem more and more likely...that's why I kissed her. I had to know! I had to!" Sirius ran his hand through his hair again, looking upset.
Lupin sighed, placing his fingers on his temples and moving them in a help me."
Sirius threw his hands up in frustration. "Then you kiss her! You did once! You must remember..." then realizing what he said he growled and glared at his friend. "Nevermind. Don't even try it."
Lupin barked a laugh. "Still touchy ey Padfoot? Ok fine...but how do you explain the twenty year age difference?"
Sirius shrugged, as if the answer should have been as plain as the mustache on Remus's face. "Time travel. It's the only way."
Remus choked and sputtered before finally getting out his words. "T-time travel? Are you mad?! Of all the arts of the Wizarding World, that's one that only a few very powerful, legendary wizards and witches were able to accomplish. Gryffindor, Slytherin. Merlin! I don't know if even Dumbledore could do it...how could this 16 year old...ok yes, a very talented, intelligent 16 year old," he added, seeing Sirius' eyebrows raise, "but still, how could she?"
"It's the only way Moony. It's the only way. I can't come up with anything else...and here's the terrible part...however it is she got there...she has to do it soon. My memories of her are being transparent sort of. I'm sure if you sort through yours you'll see the same thing. And it's not just age man. If I could remember her in Azkaban I should remember her now. And look!" Sirius turned around, showing his broad back. "Do you see those faint red lines?" He asked, looking over his shoulder. "You remember what those were don't you?"
Lupin's eyes easily adjusted to the kitchen, one of the rare positive side effects of his were-blood, and eyed Sirius' back "Scars, from her." Lupin whispered, nodding. (A/N: Don't be kinky now!) "But time does heal all wounds, even those dreadful things..." Lupin, like any wizard or witch, had a natural dislike for scars (well, any wizard besides Dumbledore, who was rather fond of the map of the London underground scar on his knee), mostly because they so rarely had them. Magical treatment was almost always an option.
"Lupin, you know, as well as I do, that those things were just as noticeable six months ago when I moved into this place as they were when I first got them. My shirt was off, I was exercising. You commented on how horrible they were. Remember?"
Lupin did but he wasn't giving up that easily. "Yes of course but...it's just not logical Sirius." He sighed, resting his temple between his fingers again.
"Damn your logic man! I'm telling you what I know!" He shouted, turning about to face Remus again.
"Fine fine..." Lupin said, patronizing and motioned for Sirius to settle down. "Assuming you're right. And both our Hermiones are the same person...why not wait a few years until it's more appropriate? I mean, you waited for so many already..."
Sirius did sit, slumping in his chair as if defeated. "Because I did wait for so many. Being around her like this...it hurts Remus." He placed a hand over his heart for emphasis. "And the fact that our memories and my scars are fading indicates to me that she really does need to soon. I think that something I do triggers her journey. Expressing myself to her now is the best I can come up with."
Lupin smirked. "Are you sure it's not just that she's running from you?" "Aye, that may be, but I'd have to chase her first either way." Sirius replied, smirking back momentarily, but then his frown returned.
"Look old friend, I won't force the girl to do anything. You know that. But I can't keep away from her. I just can't." His eyes were dark but Lupin knew that Sirius was fixated, and nothing could changes his mind. He sighed at the rising sun coming through the window.
"Try my friend. But for now, let's get at least a few hours of sleep." He rose and patted his friend on the shoulder before heading off to bed, trying to digest the night's events.
Sirius sat for a few moments longer before heading off to his own bed. He momentarily paused at the entrance to the girl's room and smiled softly as he saw Hermione's sleeping figure, a small smile playing across her lips. "Happy dreams" he whispered as he tiptoed out and quietly shut the door.
A/N: Ok Ok I know it's not that long but I decided that if you want me to update frequently you'll just have to deal with shorter chapters because I have school and work and boyfriend...etc etc. R/R everyone.