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Chapter Nine
Hermione twirled the stem of her glass in her hand, staring unseeingly at the far side of the room. She was still disturbed by the conversation she had had with Snape earlier in the day. Well, perhaps not conversation. If she was to be honest, they had an argument. Yet another in what was becoming a long series.
It was not so much the fact that she had argued with Snape that disturbed the young teacher, as the feeling that she had *enjoyed * it. It was a notion that had been sneaking into her consciousness very gradually, but after this morning, she was forced to admit, at least to herself, that there might be some truth in it. It was possible that fear or anger could have made her cheeks flush and her heart beat faster, it was even possible that adrenaline had given her the high she had been on all day since the argument, but none if these emotions should have made her skin feel so tingly, or made the recollection of the event bring a rush to her head that took her breath away.
No, she had to admit it. Arguing with Snape had been *good.*
As sickening as the suggestion was. Hermione had always felt that it was people like Snape himself that enjoyed bringing pain for their own amusement. It was a character fault that she would never have picked for herself, until now. Getting satisfaction from yelling at people and doing one's best to make them feel bad should feel wrong, shouldn't it?
Hermione tried to comfort herself with the thought that it was only Snape, and he deserved everything he got. She watched as Sirius talked with him. The evil bastard- it never failed to provoke her admiration that Sirius could manage to talk to him after the years of hatred he had had to suffer. At the thought of telling Snape exactly how unfair he had been over the years, Hermione's pulse rate raced once again, and she took a sip of her wine. Well, she would get her revenge soon enough.
As though the other girl had read her thoughts, Ailie broke off her conversation with Harry and came to stand next to her friend.
'We'll give it to him tomorrow night,' she said. Hermione nodded.
'Yes, but how? He needs to take it just before he goes to sleep, if it's to work properly. I hardly think he'll just gulp down something we give him.'
Ailie frowned. 'We could get one of those house elf creatures to give it to him with his dinner...' she mused, but was stopped by another shake of her companion's head.
'No. Knowing Snape, it would be hours later that he went to bed. We need to make certain that he goes to sleep straight afterwards.'
The two girls were both caught up in thought when Sirius once again approached them. Hermione looked up with a distracted smile, but was intrigued by the answering expression on her old friend's face.
She narrowed her eyes at him. 'Okay, Sirius. Spill it.' He raised his eyebrows at her in a gesture of innocence. Her suspicions confirmed, Hermione continued, 'You only ever have that particular smug expression when you think you know something that no-one else knows. So, spill it.'
The older man looked down at his hands, his expression all virtuousness.
'I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about, my dear Hermione.' The statement was ruined by the grin that spread across his face.
Hermione folded her arms across her chest. 'You do. You just had some secret chit-chat with Severus Snape and now you're standing here with that expression on your face. So just tell us what it is.'
Again, Sirius raised his eyebrows. 'Oh. 'Severus' now, is it?'
Hermione cursed the blush that bloomed across her cheeks and fought for an intimidating expression. 'We are colleagues, Sirius. I'm allowed to call him whatever I want. And don't try to change the subject.'
'You know, he mentioned the fact that the two of you were colleagues as well,' Sirius added, sticking to his innocent tones. He caught Ailie's eye, and a grin flashed between them.
Hermione looked from one to the other, baffled. There was a joke here somewhere, but she didn't get it.
'Don't worry, Herm,' said Ailie, patting her shoulder. 'It's not that important.'
Sirius nodded, and put his arm around her shoulder. 'You'll find out when you grow up.'
Anger rose in Hermione, and she pushed Sirius away with a frown. Looking over to the window where Snape was still seated, she noticed the glare he was sending their way. She sent him one of her own.
Ailie, having noticed the exchange, looked at Hermione.
'You know, 'Mione, with guests here, you really should have a party for them. You know, just a few drinks, Christmas Eve. You can use our rooms.'
A wide smile spread across Sirius' face. 'What a great idea.'
Ailie's face creased in a mock-frown. 'Of course, we'd have to invite Severus Snape. It wouldn't do to not have him there.'
Sirius gave an evil smile. 'Oh, trust me, he'll be there. I told him that I was staying in Hermione's rooms.'
Again, Hermione looked at each of her friends, feeling like they were talking an a language she didn't understand. Shaking her head in defeat, she said, 'Whatever.' She turned to leave, but Sirius again caught her in a half-hug around the shoulders. Ailie smiled brightly at her, and turned to the rest of the room.
'If I could have your attention, everyone,' she said loudly. Slowly, the conversations around the room ceased. She favoured the room with a bright smile. 'As tomorrow is Christmas Eve, and we've two very good friends visiting us, Hermione has kindly decided to hold a cocktail party in her rooms tomorrow evening. Everyone is welcome. Turn up after dinner.'
There were nods and smiles about the room when she turned back to Hermione, whose countenance was not so happy.
'I didn't think we'd actually decided on anything,' she said tremulously. 'I wouldn't even know how to hold a cocktail party...'
Ailie took her arm and led her a little away from the group, saying, 'Oh, it's easy, I expect. Now listen...' She glanced over her shoulder briefly, to make sure no-one listened. 'It's the perfect way to make sure Snape drinks the potion before bed. We'll make sure to give him a drink right before he leaves.'
Hermione frowned. 'But he'll never come. Snape just isn't the sort of man who goes to parties. We'd have to get Dumbledore to invite him specially-'
'Or we could specifically ask him not to come,' Ailie said, raising an eyebrow.
Hermione smiled a little. 'Yes, you have a point. But telling him not to come would be too strong- he's a stickler for social rules. We'd just have to indicate that you don't want him to come or something, something that would make him enjoy the thought of annoying you...'
As she sought for a good ploy, she noticed the cunning gleam in her friend's eyes.
'I think,' said Ailie, 'it would be best if we went about it a slightly different way. Perhaps if you were to have another argument with him tomorrow morning- you're good at those-' Hermione blushed, 'and make sure that you sit really close to Sirius at breakfast and lunch. Perhaps even give him a hug.'
Hermione shot Ailie a puzzled look. 'What's Sirius got to do with anything?' she asked.
'Oh, you know, Snape hates Sirius- Sirius told me all about it. It'd draw Snape's attention to the fun he could have if he could tease his old enemy a bit.'
Hermione shrugged. It sounded a little weak, for a plan, but it was the best they had. 'Okay,' she agreed.
With a cheerful smile, Ailie led the way back to their group. Hermione cast a glance over to Snape's chair as she walked past. He seemed quite content to be by himself, contemplating the stars. It seemed unlikely that he would go out of his way to be amongst a party of people, but, she reflected as she reached her friends and Sirius again put his arm around her, maybe Ailie was right. Snape was certainly glaring at Sirius now- maybe he was nasty enough to come along just to be mean to her friend.
With an inward shrug, Hermione turned her attention to what Harry was saying.
***
The next morning went exactly according to plan. Hermione sat herself next to Sirius at breakfast, giving him a habitual kiss on the cheek and attracting Snape's glare in return. Snape happened to be sitting directly opposite them, for some reason, but Hermione shrugged it off.
Directly after breakfast, as she walked to the library to return some texts, Hermione was given the perfect excuse to argue with Snape as he bumped into her, forcing her to drop all her books. A snide remark he made as she scrambled to pick them up pushed her far beyond her ingrained bounds of politeness, and the row they had attracted quite an audience before both stormed off in a fury.
With the instinctive feeling that it would rattle Snape no end, Hermione slipped her arm through Sirius' as they walked in to lunch, and again sat next to him. During lunch, Snape glared at them almost without a pause, though Hermione refrained from glancing at him, fixing her attention on her friend's conversation. It made her enjoyment of an excellent lunch all the sweeter to know she was annoying her enemy.
Actually, she reflected as the meal drew to a close, she was having a rather good time. It had been quite some time since she had been able to sit and talk with Sirius this way, and she was rediscovering how much she liked about her old friend. Even immediately after his release from Azkaban, when he could be forgiven for being antisocial or moody, Sirius had always made an effort to open himself to Harry, showing the fatherly love he had for his godson. He had also always included Harry's friends in the equation, something Hermione had been unused to in the non-wizarding world. It was Sirius' attitude that had made them seem like family; she, Harry and Ron, even more so than their close friendship might have created. Like Molly Weasley, Sirius had seemed to embrace the other two of the trio as a welcome extension of the family, and, as the years slowly drew her farther and farther away from her own family, Hermione was grateful for it.
Sirius was also an interesting person in his own right. His tales of his younger days at Hogwarts, though tinged with a little sadness sometimes, were fascinating, and his studies and explorations since his release spoke of a man with a strong purpose in life. He had always been an eloquent man; Hermione still blushed when she thought of the crush she had harboured for a few years in her adolescent bosom. It was good, however, to begin to know him as an adult.
A trip to Hogsmeade was decided upon, and Hermione returned to her rooms with Christmas spirit firmly in place. A remark of the night before entered her head as she unlocked the wards on her door and entered her warm sitting room; Sirius had said that Snape believed him to be staying in Hermione's rooms, instead of the guest rooms he and Harry occupied. A slight frown marred her face. Something was going on, she could feel it, like a joke she hadn't been told about yet. Still, she thought as she donned her scarf and heavy winter cloak, it wouldn't help her to worry about it, especially when she had more pleasant things to do.
***
Sirius strolled behind the group with Ailie, both of them silent as they watched Hermione, Harry and a few of the students that had stayed behind for the holidays cavort in the snow on the path.
'She has no idea, does she?' he asked with a smile.
Ailie grinned back at him. 'Not a clue.' Her expression sobered. 'I don't think she's had much experience in that area.'
Sirius shook his head. 'As much as I know, from the boys. She had a short fling with a foreign student when they were all fourteen, and apparently she and Ron kissed when they were fifteen, just to see what it was like.' A laugh rumbled in his chest. 'Ron told me about it- in utmost secrecy, of course.' He encountered Ailie's curious look, and raised an eyebrow. Ailie shrugged.
'I don't think I'll ever get used to wizarding ways,' she said. 'In my coven, these things are natural. I've talked with Hermione about such things, and she gets embarrassed. I don't know why. It was considered natural to kiss one's friends when I was young- we were just exploring. I've kissed all my friends.'
Sirius' eyebrow raised higher. 'Really? All?' His English discretion prevented him from asking the question that trembled in his mind at that picture.
'Of course.' Ailie made a disgusted sound. 'How are you supposed to choose your lifemate if you haven't explored all your options? All this suppression of one's feelings, it's nonsense.'
Sirius pursed his lips and looked away. The evident disgust in Ailie's tone made him smile. It reminded him of how young she was. He could remember when life was so simple.
'I have to say, though,' he added, after a pause, 'it is most pleasurable to be annoying Severus this way. I haven't seen him like this since we were at school together.' He chuckled. 'It's wonderful to get under his skin again.'
Ailie smiled. 'I have to admit, I've no fond feelings for Snape, either.'
Sirius looked at her. 'I had a feeling the story about a 'cousin visiting from Scotland' was a ruse. So- the story.' An alarmed look crossed his features. 'You're not Severus' ill-begotten daughter or something of the kind?'
Ailie laughed. 'I seriously doubt it. Ugh,' she added with a shiver, 'what a thought.'
Sirius gave her a sly smile. 'Why not? It's the thought you've been having for Hermione.'
Ailie slapped him on the arm. 'I was talking about being his daughter, not- not-' she stuttered into silence. 'Anyway, Hermione won't have to worry about it. It's sufficient to just tease him with her.'
'Hmm,' said Sirius. He had a feeling Ailie might soon be disillusioned. 'Anyway, we shall see.'
Ailie gave him a puzzled look, and shrugged. She looked ahead, where Harry and the children were busy trying to stuff snow down Hermione's cloak. 'It looks like our friend might need our help.' She ran ahead, ready to join the fray.
Sirius continued at a more leisurely pace, enjoying the revelry before him. It was wonderful to be experiencing a family Christmas once more. He enjoyed seeing Harry happy, and had to admit that, if Ron and Remus were not absent, all of his family would be right in front of him. He had suffered many losses over the years.
Reaching the giggling group in front of him, Sirius crossed his arms and tut-tutted at the pile of people on the ground below. They were all evidently laughing too hard to get up, Hermione and Harry the loudest amongst them. With a dramatic sigh, Sirius began helping them off the ground.
When Harry was occupied picking up giggling students and brushing them off, Sirius gave his hand to Hermione, watching as she gracefully pulled herself up next to him. Looking down on her flushed face, cheeks blooming with youth and beauty, Sirius understood why his old enemy found himself so flustered near her. If he were working with such a fine example of English maidenhood, he'd find it difficult to concentrate on being a nasty old man as well. If he weren't practically her uncle, Sirius reminded himself, brushing a strand of hair back from the young girl's face.
The group continued on to Hogsmeade, Sirius with a contemplative frown on his face.
Chapter Nine
Hermione twirled the stem of her glass in her hand, staring unseeingly at the far side of the room. She was still disturbed by the conversation she had had with Snape earlier in the day. Well, perhaps not conversation. If she was to be honest, they had an argument. Yet another in what was becoming a long series.
It was not so much the fact that she had argued with Snape that disturbed the young teacher, as the feeling that she had *enjoyed * it. It was a notion that had been sneaking into her consciousness very gradually, but after this morning, she was forced to admit, at least to herself, that there might be some truth in it. It was possible that fear or anger could have made her cheeks flush and her heart beat faster, it was even possible that adrenaline had given her the high she had been on all day since the argument, but none if these emotions should have made her skin feel so tingly, or made the recollection of the event bring a rush to her head that took her breath away.
No, she had to admit it. Arguing with Snape had been *good.*
As sickening as the suggestion was. Hermione had always felt that it was people like Snape himself that enjoyed bringing pain for their own amusement. It was a character fault that she would never have picked for herself, until now. Getting satisfaction from yelling at people and doing one's best to make them feel bad should feel wrong, shouldn't it?
Hermione tried to comfort herself with the thought that it was only Snape, and he deserved everything he got. She watched as Sirius talked with him. The evil bastard- it never failed to provoke her admiration that Sirius could manage to talk to him after the years of hatred he had had to suffer. At the thought of telling Snape exactly how unfair he had been over the years, Hermione's pulse rate raced once again, and she took a sip of her wine. Well, she would get her revenge soon enough.
As though the other girl had read her thoughts, Ailie broke off her conversation with Harry and came to stand next to her friend.
'We'll give it to him tomorrow night,' she said. Hermione nodded.
'Yes, but how? He needs to take it just before he goes to sleep, if it's to work properly. I hardly think he'll just gulp down something we give him.'
Ailie frowned. 'We could get one of those house elf creatures to give it to him with his dinner...' she mused, but was stopped by another shake of her companion's head.
'No. Knowing Snape, it would be hours later that he went to bed. We need to make certain that he goes to sleep straight afterwards.'
The two girls were both caught up in thought when Sirius once again approached them. Hermione looked up with a distracted smile, but was intrigued by the answering expression on her old friend's face.
She narrowed her eyes at him. 'Okay, Sirius. Spill it.' He raised his eyebrows at her in a gesture of innocence. Her suspicions confirmed, Hermione continued, 'You only ever have that particular smug expression when you think you know something that no-one else knows. So, spill it.'
The older man looked down at his hands, his expression all virtuousness.
'I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about, my dear Hermione.' The statement was ruined by the grin that spread across his face.
Hermione folded her arms across her chest. 'You do. You just had some secret chit-chat with Severus Snape and now you're standing here with that expression on your face. So just tell us what it is.'
Again, Sirius raised his eyebrows. 'Oh. 'Severus' now, is it?'
Hermione cursed the blush that bloomed across her cheeks and fought for an intimidating expression. 'We are colleagues, Sirius. I'm allowed to call him whatever I want. And don't try to change the subject.'
'You know, he mentioned the fact that the two of you were colleagues as well,' Sirius added, sticking to his innocent tones. He caught Ailie's eye, and a grin flashed between them.
Hermione looked from one to the other, baffled. There was a joke here somewhere, but she didn't get it.
'Don't worry, Herm,' said Ailie, patting her shoulder. 'It's not that important.'
Sirius nodded, and put his arm around her shoulder. 'You'll find out when you grow up.'
Anger rose in Hermione, and she pushed Sirius away with a frown. Looking over to the window where Snape was still seated, she noticed the glare he was sending their way. She sent him one of her own.
Ailie, having noticed the exchange, looked at Hermione.
'You know, 'Mione, with guests here, you really should have a party for them. You know, just a few drinks, Christmas Eve. You can use our rooms.'
A wide smile spread across Sirius' face. 'What a great idea.'
Ailie's face creased in a mock-frown. 'Of course, we'd have to invite Severus Snape. It wouldn't do to not have him there.'
Sirius gave an evil smile. 'Oh, trust me, he'll be there. I told him that I was staying in Hermione's rooms.'
Again, Hermione looked at each of her friends, feeling like they were talking an a language she didn't understand. Shaking her head in defeat, she said, 'Whatever.' She turned to leave, but Sirius again caught her in a half-hug around the shoulders. Ailie smiled brightly at her, and turned to the rest of the room.
'If I could have your attention, everyone,' she said loudly. Slowly, the conversations around the room ceased. She favoured the room with a bright smile. 'As tomorrow is Christmas Eve, and we've two very good friends visiting us, Hermione has kindly decided to hold a cocktail party in her rooms tomorrow evening. Everyone is welcome. Turn up after dinner.'
There were nods and smiles about the room when she turned back to Hermione, whose countenance was not so happy.
'I didn't think we'd actually decided on anything,' she said tremulously. 'I wouldn't even know how to hold a cocktail party...'
Ailie took her arm and led her a little away from the group, saying, 'Oh, it's easy, I expect. Now listen...' She glanced over her shoulder briefly, to make sure no-one listened. 'It's the perfect way to make sure Snape drinks the potion before bed. We'll make sure to give him a drink right before he leaves.'
Hermione frowned. 'But he'll never come. Snape just isn't the sort of man who goes to parties. We'd have to get Dumbledore to invite him specially-'
'Or we could specifically ask him not to come,' Ailie said, raising an eyebrow.
Hermione smiled a little. 'Yes, you have a point. But telling him not to come would be too strong- he's a stickler for social rules. We'd just have to indicate that you don't want him to come or something, something that would make him enjoy the thought of annoying you...'
As she sought for a good ploy, she noticed the cunning gleam in her friend's eyes.
'I think,' said Ailie, 'it would be best if we went about it a slightly different way. Perhaps if you were to have another argument with him tomorrow morning- you're good at those-' Hermione blushed, 'and make sure that you sit really close to Sirius at breakfast and lunch. Perhaps even give him a hug.'
Hermione shot Ailie a puzzled look. 'What's Sirius got to do with anything?' she asked.
'Oh, you know, Snape hates Sirius- Sirius told me all about it. It'd draw Snape's attention to the fun he could have if he could tease his old enemy a bit.'
Hermione shrugged. It sounded a little weak, for a plan, but it was the best they had. 'Okay,' she agreed.
With a cheerful smile, Ailie led the way back to their group. Hermione cast a glance over to Snape's chair as she walked past. He seemed quite content to be by himself, contemplating the stars. It seemed unlikely that he would go out of his way to be amongst a party of people, but, she reflected as she reached her friends and Sirius again put his arm around her, maybe Ailie was right. Snape was certainly glaring at Sirius now- maybe he was nasty enough to come along just to be mean to her friend.
With an inward shrug, Hermione turned her attention to what Harry was saying.
***
The next morning went exactly according to plan. Hermione sat herself next to Sirius at breakfast, giving him a habitual kiss on the cheek and attracting Snape's glare in return. Snape happened to be sitting directly opposite them, for some reason, but Hermione shrugged it off.
Directly after breakfast, as she walked to the library to return some texts, Hermione was given the perfect excuse to argue with Snape as he bumped into her, forcing her to drop all her books. A snide remark he made as she scrambled to pick them up pushed her far beyond her ingrained bounds of politeness, and the row they had attracted quite an audience before both stormed off in a fury.
With the instinctive feeling that it would rattle Snape no end, Hermione slipped her arm through Sirius' as they walked in to lunch, and again sat next to him. During lunch, Snape glared at them almost without a pause, though Hermione refrained from glancing at him, fixing her attention on her friend's conversation. It made her enjoyment of an excellent lunch all the sweeter to know she was annoying her enemy.
Actually, she reflected as the meal drew to a close, she was having a rather good time. It had been quite some time since she had been able to sit and talk with Sirius this way, and she was rediscovering how much she liked about her old friend. Even immediately after his release from Azkaban, when he could be forgiven for being antisocial or moody, Sirius had always made an effort to open himself to Harry, showing the fatherly love he had for his godson. He had also always included Harry's friends in the equation, something Hermione had been unused to in the non-wizarding world. It was Sirius' attitude that had made them seem like family; she, Harry and Ron, even more so than their close friendship might have created. Like Molly Weasley, Sirius had seemed to embrace the other two of the trio as a welcome extension of the family, and, as the years slowly drew her farther and farther away from her own family, Hermione was grateful for it.
Sirius was also an interesting person in his own right. His tales of his younger days at Hogwarts, though tinged with a little sadness sometimes, were fascinating, and his studies and explorations since his release spoke of a man with a strong purpose in life. He had always been an eloquent man; Hermione still blushed when she thought of the crush she had harboured for a few years in her adolescent bosom. It was good, however, to begin to know him as an adult.
A trip to Hogsmeade was decided upon, and Hermione returned to her rooms with Christmas spirit firmly in place. A remark of the night before entered her head as she unlocked the wards on her door and entered her warm sitting room; Sirius had said that Snape believed him to be staying in Hermione's rooms, instead of the guest rooms he and Harry occupied. A slight frown marred her face. Something was going on, she could feel it, like a joke she hadn't been told about yet. Still, she thought as she donned her scarf and heavy winter cloak, it wouldn't help her to worry about it, especially when she had more pleasant things to do.
***
Sirius strolled behind the group with Ailie, both of them silent as they watched Hermione, Harry and a few of the students that had stayed behind for the holidays cavort in the snow on the path.
'She has no idea, does she?' he asked with a smile.
Ailie grinned back at him. 'Not a clue.' Her expression sobered. 'I don't think she's had much experience in that area.'
Sirius shook his head. 'As much as I know, from the boys. She had a short fling with a foreign student when they were all fourteen, and apparently she and Ron kissed when they were fifteen, just to see what it was like.' A laugh rumbled in his chest. 'Ron told me about it- in utmost secrecy, of course.' He encountered Ailie's curious look, and raised an eyebrow. Ailie shrugged.
'I don't think I'll ever get used to wizarding ways,' she said. 'In my coven, these things are natural. I've talked with Hermione about such things, and she gets embarrassed. I don't know why. It was considered natural to kiss one's friends when I was young- we were just exploring. I've kissed all my friends.'
Sirius' eyebrow raised higher. 'Really? All?' His English discretion prevented him from asking the question that trembled in his mind at that picture.
'Of course.' Ailie made a disgusted sound. 'How are you supposed to choose your lifemate if you haven't explored all your options? All this suppression of one's feelings, it's nonsense.'
Sirius pursed his lips and looked away. The evident disgust in Ailie's tone made him smile. It reminded him of how young she was. He could remember when life was so simple.
'I have to say, though,' he added, after a pause, 'it is most pleasurable to be annoying Severus this way. I haven't seen him like this since we were at school together.' He chuckled. 'It's wonderful to get under his skin again.'
Ailie smiled. 'I have to admit, I've no fond feelings for Snape, either.'
Sirius looked at her. 'I had a feeling the story about a 'cousin visiting from Scotland' was a ruse. So- the story.' An alarmed look crossed his features. 'You're not Severus' ill-begotten daughter or something of the kind?'
Ailie laughed. 'I seriously doubt it. Ugh,' she added with a shiver, 'what a thought.'
Sirius gave her a sly smile. 'Why not? It's the thought you've been having for Hermione.'
Ailie slapped him on the arm. 'I was talking about being his daughter, not- not-' she stuttered into silence. 'Anyway, Hermione won't have to worry about it. It's sufficient to just tease him with her.'
'Hmm,' said Sirius. He had a feeling Ailie might soon be disillusioned. 'Anyway, we shall see.'
Ailie gave him a puzzled look, and shrugged. She looked ahead, where Harry and the children were busy trying to stuff snow down Hermione's cloak. 'It looks like our friend might need our help.' She ran ahead, ready to join the fray.
Sirius continued at a more leisurely pace, enjoying the revelry before him. It was wonderful to be experiencing a family Christmas once more. He enjoyed seeing Harry happy, and had to admit that, if Ron and Remus were not absent, all of his family would be right in front of him. He had suffered many losses over the years.
Reaching the giggling group in front of him, Sirius crossed his arms and tut-tutted at the pile of people on the ground below. They were all evidently laughing too hard to get up, Hermione and Harry the loudest amongst them. With a dramatic sigh, Sirius began helping them off the ground.
When Harry was occupied picking up giggling students and brushing them off, Sirius gave his hand to Hermione, watching as she gracefully pulled herself up next to him. Looking down on her flushed face, cheeks blooming with youth and beauty, Sirius understood why his old enemy found himself so flustered near her. If he were working with such a fine example of English maidenhood, he'd find it difficult to concentrate on being a nasty old man as well. If he weren't practically her uncle, Sirius reminded himself, brushing a strand of hair back from the young girl's face.
The group continued on to Hogsmeade, Sirius with a contemplative frown on his face.