I Want the Fire Back
Summary: Hermione is obsolete – the War is over, Harry and Ron are busy, and she the mere Charms teacher at Hogwarts. When a presumably dead man comes back better than ever, she suddenly means everything... to him. SiHr
Rating: R for language, themes, sex, and whatever else may come out of my twisted little mind.
Disclaimer: It's not me who owns these characters or any plots associated with the Harry Potter books.
Chapter 12: Of Phoenixes and Drunkenness
Hermione dressed herself in a dark red jumper and jeans, and threw on a pair of warm robes over top. She wrapped her Gryffindor scarf around her neck and pulled her chestnut hair free from underneath. Slipping on a pair of black gloves, she surveyed herself in her mirror momentarily before heading out into the hall to meet Remus. He was already waiting for her with his impeccable sense of timing and very lacking late-ness.
"Hullo, Hermione!" Remus said cheerfully, waving at her as he attempted shoving a mitten on at the same time. He was in a wonderfully happy mood, despite the bags under his eyes, and Hermione wondered if it was because of the full moon being far away, or because he was madly in love and had his best friend back. Not to mention the traitorous bastard responsible for killing and ruining the lives of himself and everyone he cared for was dead. That was always a good memory to start your day with.
"Good afternoon, Remus," the young woman grinned, but it didn't quite reach her eyes.
Remus Lupin, the ever-perceptive werewolf he was, noticed. "What's wrong, dear girl?" Acting concerned, but still smiling, Remus led her down the corridor towards the quidditch pitch.
"Sirius isn't back yet," she sighed, and immediately felt foolish for saying that. He had been gone only a few hours, and one would think that she would have liked just a little time away from her lover… But such was not the case. She worried about him, although she had no real reason to do so. He and Harry were both fathomlessly powerful wizards, and she refused to doubt that.
"Ah, yes, he seems to be lacking presence at the moment, doesn't he?" Remus responded lightly, still smiling pleasantly. Hermione laughed at his quirky mood, and said, "Yes… but I hope he does make it back in time for at least some of the match. He's always excellent for a good warm-up in the stands."
The older man laughed and looked at Hermione in mock shock. "Why, Professor Granger, in the stands? Seems an awfully public place to do such things in, especially in front of the students…"
"Oh, don't worry Moony – the students saw me in a right state yesterday, didn't they, Hermione?"
The two friends turned to find Sirius standing with Harry, who was snickering quietly at his godfather's horrible fate the previous day. When Sirius had told him that, he had quickly made the smart move of keeping his mouth closed on how Hermione had owled him that night, requesting a certain amount of stimulating pills. Sirius may love him dearly, but that did not mean that he wouldn't smack him up side the head for his petty betrayal.
Hermione had the courtesy to blush, and Remus chuckled. "Ah, yes, I heard about that this morning – some students in the hall were quite avidly discussing just how gifted a certain Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher was. And I really don't think they were talking magically."
Sirius glared at him playfully and stepped forward to take Hermione's gloved hand, the four of them walking in Remus and Hermione's previous direction.
"So," she began, unable to further hold in her curiosity, "What did you two boys do while in London, hmm?"
Harry opened his mouth eagerly to speak, but Sirius saw and kicked him in the foot to silence him.
"Ow! Sirius, that was my foot, you git!" Harry looked at him confusedly, and Sirius played innocent.
"I thought I saw a spider."
Hermione sighed impatiently interrupting the two raven-haired men/boys, "You haven't answered my question."
Sirius turned his attention from his clueless godson to his curious girlfriend, and raised an eyebrow. "I'm aware of that fact. Thank you for reminding me, though, love, I appreciate it greatly."
Glaring at him, Hermione raised her foot and promptly kicked Sirius in the foot. As he opened his mouth in shock to question her reasons for such an act, she interjected him. "Spider."
And with that, Hermione stalked off to faster than the others towards the stands.
Remus raised an eyebrow (it was a Marauder thing – they could all do it, except for that idiot Peter) and turned to Padfoot, smiling.
Harry was still grumbling about his foot and kept shooting questioning glances towards Sirius.
"That time of the month, maybe?" Sirius shrugged at Hermione's behavior. No use in trying to depict what was bothering her – there was always that to blame it on.
"No, actually, the next full moon is quite far aw-" Remus began, having not noticed what Sirius meant, but was cut-off shortly after being stared at in amazement and realization hit him.
"Ah, well, yes, Hermione… I don't believe so, she didn't smell like-" Remus, regaining his more intelligent ways, spoke teasingly. Sirius threw up his hands in disgust, taking Hermione's previous actions and speeding up his pace greatly.
"Bloody hell, man! Do you think I want to know about the things you can smell on my girlfriend?"
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The trio of men finally found where Hermione was sitting in the Gryffindor stands, and approached her, laughing and speaking about certain things Remus had accidentally smelled during his life.
To anyone attracted to men, the sight sure was breath taking. You had three completely different guys, but all very attractive in their own way.
Take Harry, for instance – a daring Auror who killed the wizarding world's greatest dark lord, grew up in a home of misfortune, and discovered friends who loved and supported him so greatly that he would die for any one of them. Okay, so he was incredibly unselfish and brave. Another thing was his unique looks – a lightning scar on his forehead gave him great character, whereas his vibrant green eyes looked jubilant and bright, and his untamable black hair gave him the impression of a ruffled sex toy. Oh, and don't forget the whole exceedingly famous thing.
Next was the wise and quiet Remus Lupin. He was vastly intelligent and greatly articulate, not to mention he had the bad boy feature because of his lycanthropy. And in the looks department, he was also no outcast. Light brown hair framed his handsome face, and his amber eyes lit up every time he was interested or amused. And if you ever got into a conversation with this man, his charming and respectful manner would have you believing that chivalry was not dead – but very, very close to being extinct.
And last, but certainly not least (he never could be with all that damn attention he grabbed unknowingly), was Sirius Black. He indefinitely beat his best friend in the bad boy department – convicted of 13 murders, betraying his two best friends and dealing them over to the dark lord who he supposedly served, spent 13 years in Azkaban, another 5 in a hell dimension, and came out sane and with enough sense of humor to spare, to be pardoned of his crimes and given back the last 20 years of his life, physically. Personality-wise, he was a loyal rebel who would give anything for the people he loved… almost too willingly and rashly. And he was undauntingly sexy – black eyes and matching hair, dimples, and a devil-may-care smile to knock you right on your ass.
And these three men, radiating of pure sex appeal, seated themselves next to a former prude who had grown to suffice into a beautiful young woman.
Extra large helping of jealousy, anyone?
Instead of sitting next to the lovely and intensely lucky woman, Sirius sat square on her lap, grinning like an idiot. It was his own unique way of getting her to forgive him.
"You oaf! Get off of me!" she laughed, only causing Sirius to snuggle more comfortably into her lap.
"No, I think I like it here. This way I'm taller than everyone else and they have a less adequate view of the playing field."
This went on for a few more minutes until Hermione resolutely pinched Sirius' bum rather hard, causing him to yelp and fall onto the bench next to her.
"I always let you sit on my lap," he pouted defiantly for a moment, only to begin cheering madly as the teams made their way onto the field, brooms in hand.
As the names were announced, Sirius noticed that he had gone to school with some of the students' parents. Odd, he thought to himself, that Hermione went to school with these kids and I knew their parents… Especially odd since the two of them clearly appeared the same age.
But when you are discussing Sirius Black and anything that even slightly involves him, odd is quite the active adjective.
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As students were excitedly chanting "Gryffindor", the four adults made their way through the crowd of riled up teenagers, which resulted in Sirius' ass being groped by at least four girls, and one boy. But they were now safe in the confines of his quarters.
The match had been a close one – Slytherin played dirty, as it had the last thousand quidditch matches, and the Gryffindors played resolutely, determination seeping from their pores. The result was a scheduled party in the Gryffindor common room, which reminded Hermione of her own school parties that Fred and George had always thrown in favor of Harry's great snitch capturing.
Such good times… she thought in remembrance of her childhood, and a small stem of regret hit her. Surely, she could have spent just a little more time being a kid and a little less being so studious…
She was shaken from her memories as Sirius and Harry shot her pointed looks. Why are they looking at me like that? Then she realized that they had most likely been talking to her.
"Yes?"
"As we were saying, 'Mione," Harry began, brushing a piece of hair away from his scarred forehead. "Sirius and I got a little something in London, and we wanted to show you two."
Hermione looked slightly perplexed as she viewed the two inquisitively, considering neither had anything in their hands to supposedly show them. She was then a little more shocked as Sirius and Harry – who had already removed their outer robes – began taking off their shirts.
Appearing slightly frightened, but more so amused, Remus said, "I'm not into orgies, boys… at least not with two other men. Sorry to break your hearts and all-"
"Oh shut it, Moony," Sirius snapped playfully, and teasingly turned away from them all to do a pleasant little strip dance while twirling his shirt above his head.
The room's occupants laughed, and Harry removed his shirt almost hesitantly – ah, what a modest young man.
Without a spoken word, Sirius and Harry exchanged glances and turned towards their apt audience at the same time.
On both godson and godfather's chest, was an intricate tattoo of a phoenix. It was a vibrant red, and its eyes seemed to almost flash in vigor, although the image did not move nor change color. Its long flaming tail tracked down both men's stomachs, ending in a forked split around their navels. It was utterly beautiful, in more ways than one.
It was obvious that the two had not only gotten the mark out of love and devotion to one another, and in bonding, but also out of love and remembrance for those the two had shared in loss. A reason one could tell of that was the fact that it was the symbol of resurrection and the triumph of life over death.
Unable to help herself, Hermione reached out and drug one slim finger across Sirius' still sensitive chest, outlining the picture with a look of wonder on her face.
"It's gorgeous," she whispered, making Sirius grin unwaveringly.
"I was going for manly and rugged, but sure, if gorgeous is also a turn on, why not?"
"What did it feel like, Harry?" Remus asked as he peered closer at the tattoo.
"Not the best feeling in the world, but certainly not the worst, either," the boy said with a wise laugh. True, for Harry Potter was not unknown to the feeling of pain.
"Now if either one of us gets fat, Harry, we'll look plenty stupid what with a stretched out tattoo and all, won't we?"
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Later that evening, Harry invited Ron to Hogwarts, and the five were now seated in Sirius' living room, idly chatting amongst one another.
A sudden idea hit Sirius, causing him to yelp in surprise and excitement. The entire room turned to look at him, curious about the sudden outburst.
Hermione swallowed almost nervously as she noticed the roguish glint in his eyes, and he opened his mouth to speak.
"Do you guys know that it's been twenty damn years since I've had a solid drinking binge?"
In response to this, Remus, Harry and Ron laughed, and Hermione let a small smile slip. She wasn't totally against drinking – she herself had experienced a few intriguing mornings in which she remembered very little – but she didn't want to appear completely up for the idea of getting wasted on school property.
Ron noticed her disapproving look, and flashed her a big grin. "Oh 'Mione, loosen up a little, will you? We're not students anymore!"
"I suppose you're right Ron," the brunette sighed, "But if we're all to help Sirius drink himself under the table-" Sirius smirked at the assault of fond memories at this notion "-where are supposed to get the alcohol to do so?" Hermione finished exultantly, until Remus gave a small, embarrassed cough.
Everyone swiveled to observe Remus in shock, except Sirius, who knew his friend's habits quite well.
"I… Well I have quite the supply of fire whisky in my room…"
Harry mock-gasped, "Why, Professor! You get drunk on the job?"
Remus blushed and shrugged. "Only on the weekends…"
"Come on, mate," Ron stood up and motioned for Remus to tag-along, "I'll come with you to get the beverages," he offered a wink to Hermione out of pure want for annoyance, causing Sirius to growl over protectively.
"Bonkers, the lot of you…" Harry mumbled under his breath with a smile.
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Remus and Ron returned a few minutes later, each harbouring a bottle of the precious whisky under their robes.
"Voila!" Ron grinned ridiculously and pulled the container out to bathe in the light of the room.
Sirius laughed and jogged into his kitchen to fetch some shot glasses, setting them on the coffee table in the living room.
"Just in case," Hermione mumbled before casting a silencing spell over the room. The men turned to her, and those who could, raised their eyebrows.
"I just don't want to get caught!" she replied flustered, before holding her hand out eagerly. "Gimme."
Remus laughed heartily as he poured her a glass and handed it over. "Hermione, I never figured you to be such an avid drinker."
She winced as she downed the liquid, making a pained face, before responding. "I never figured you for it either, Lupin. What's your excuse?"
"Sometimes the werewolf inside needs to be quelled, even on nights that aren't bearing a full moon," the amber-eyed man replied lightly even though his words contained a heavy amount of emotion. "And yours?"
Hermione gave a small shrug as she refilled her glass. "You don't need to be asleep to experience nightmares of a sort."
The older man nodded and raised his own glass out to toast the woman. "To personal hells and defeating them with unnaturally strong liquor."
They drank to it, and Sirius, finding that a whole bottle was sitting unattended on the table in front of him, picked it up with a smile.
"Oh how I missed thee," he murmured, taking a swig straight from the bottle.
Remus laughed. "Melodramatic, much, Padfoot?"
"Always, Moony," he replied, taking another swig and letting the liquid burn its way down his throat.
Harry stared stoically at his own shot glass, preparing himself for the onslaught of horrid taste he would experience. It was not always easy to go through the process to receive your desired effect.
Tilting his head back, the Boy-Who-Lived gulped down his shot of fire whisky, and ended up barely swallowing it before coughing and hacking horribly.
"Amateur," Sirius observed Harry musingly before taking another swig of the bottle.
"Why yes, Sirius, we brought one bottle for you to have to yourself and the other for the rest of us to share," Hermione growled as she jumped from her spot on the couch to jerk the aforementioned object from his hands.
"Bit pushy, aren't you?" he grinned up at her through already watery eyes.
"You know it, Black," she downed another shot and set the bottle back in her lover's hands to wipe her mouth with her sleeve.
A few more drinks later.
"Anyone up for strip chess?" Ron giggled inanely as he tumbled sideways on his chair.
Talk about a lightweight, Remus mused as Sirius spoke up while watching his also teetering grandson.
"Yes, Ron, why don't you and Harry play?"
"Yeah!" Harry beamed vivaciously and stood up quickly, only to fall face first on the floor.
"I'll get the chess set!" Ron yelled and stood up, but unlike his ill-fated friend, managed to sprint towards the door.
Hermione, in the process of drinking another shot, spit it out and yelled (only slightly slurred), "You can't let'im go! If someun sees'im…!" she trailed off in laughter as she noticed Harry was avidly licking the carpet where her drink had been sputtered out.
"Shit," Sirius mumbled as he set 'his' bottle back on the table and hurdled himself over the couch to attempt capturing the much-disadvantaged man, for his drunkenness was greater.
Still, although Sirius could hold his liquor better, he tripped and fell on top of the Weasley, and both lay in a sputtering heap near the door.
"Did he get out?" Hermione giggled lightly as she tore her gaze away from the still-licking Harry.
Remus turned around slowly, observing the mess behind him. "No, but I do believe they've decided they want to be more than friends."
"No!" Harry managed to shoot up from his position on the floor and stand without falling. "Ron, I wanted to play strip chess!" He tore off his light green t-shirt and began unbuckling his pants.
"Oh lord," Hermione moaned, turning her face towards the cover of the couch and trying to raise the bottle to her lips, which resulted in it pressing awkwardly against her mouth and dribbling whisky down her shirt.
Sirius stood up, swaying slightly as Ron caught hold of his pants and nearly ripped them clear off.
"Bloody tall…" the redhead murmured from his position on the floor as he watched Sirius tower six feet above him.
"'Monee, could ya tosh the bottle o'er hur?" Sirius slurred horribly, partly because of the alcohol in his system and partly because his face had been smashed roughly into the carpet when he had tripped over Ron.
Without thinking, Hermione muttered a "Sure" and sent the bottle whizzing over a gaping Remus' head, only to smash into the wall next to Sirius', sending liquor and glass all over it.
The room was silent for a good ten seconds before Sirius yelled and ducked, just now reacting to the fact that his head had nearly been blown off. Harry 'eeped' and stopped trying to unzip his boxers, and Ron began crawling towards the back of the couch, muttering about explosions and taking cover.
Remus was now laughing uncontrollably as he was aware that no one had actually gotten hurt, and Hermione was gaping at her now empty hand.
"I wasn't done with that," she glared at Sirius, who was still holding his head protectively in his hands, sobbing about his near death.
"Lightweights, all of you," Remus sighed disappointedly, standing up to very un-Remus-ly scratch his bum.
This seemed to bring Sirius out of his daze and his head jerked up. "I'm na a lighweigh, Moony!"
Remus smirked. "Prove it, Padfoot."
Sirius pondered for a moment (er, well he paused for a second, but that may have just been his delayed reactions), and charged full speed at his best friend.
Even with his werewolf reflexes, Remus did not get out of the way in time, and was thrown back into his chair with Sirius on top of him. Both began laughing hysterically, memories of nights at Hogwarts doing much the same thing.
Hermione had began chanting, "I'm the real shady, yes I'm the real shady…"
Ron was desperately trying to shove his head under the 3-inch gap between the floor and the couch.
Harry was naked and skank dancing.
And now you know why 90 percent of people's funniest memories came from being highly intoxicated.
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A/N: Yeah, I know, that was pretty out of character for Hermione to get wasted – oh well. My story is all about Hermione becoming a more enthusiastic person, and wanting to live life to its fullest now that she has Sirius. And I also know it didn't take much for them to become completely wasted, but just remember that fire whisky is some hardcore shit. So please read and review! Christmas is next chapter! And you know what happens at Christmas… WEASLEYS! Oh and Sirius gets a very kickass X-mas present from his family and friends.
P.S. Oh, and do ya'll think I've earned the right to put 'Humor' as my secondary genre for this fic? Tell me in your review!
One final thing: carosu pointed out to me that I was incorrect in thinking that the adjective mercurial is derived from the name Mercutio. I'm sorry if anyone took it that way, but in my story it says that the name Mercutio is linked to the word mercurial. The name Mercutio is derived from mercurial – not the other way around. So I just wanted to clear that up with y'all!