It's You and Me Now
(A/N:Hello everyone! Hope you all had a good week! Thanks so much for your reviews, even though the last chapter was less than stellar. I like this chapter a lot. It has romance, art, jealousy, longing. . .:) Hope you like it! And I hope to redeem Severus. I'll see you next week. Thanks in advance for your reviews.)
This chapter is for my beta, Naomi, for her help, and for mystripedskirt for the terrific reviews. Thanks!
Hermione took the easel she had bought and her watercolors and took them down to the common room. It was two-thirty on a Saturday. Kids were still busily working on their homework. Hermione had already finished.
Hermione set up the easel out by the lake, where the sunlight was especially bright. After thinking for a few minutes she began to paint an abstract portrait of Hogwarts. A few students saw what she was doing and whispered. Sirius soon came up to Hermione. "What are you doing, beautiful?" he whispered in her ear, wrapping his arms around her.
She smiled. "Who is it?"
Sirius recoiled in shock. Hermione laughed. "I'm only kidding. It's a painting of Hogwarts." Sirius stepped back from the painting. It had swirls of color and light, with no resemblance to the majestic tower. "I don't follow. That doesn't look like Hogwarts to me."
Hermione giggled. "It's a suggestion, of Hogwarts. See, the swirls of activity here? They represent the busy halls. And the noble blues and reds here represent Hogwarts' history. And the oranges represent power."
Sirius nodded, but he was staring at Hermione. He liked how focused she was.
"Want me to teach you how to draw?" she asked.
"I brought lunch," Sirius said, motioning to some packages that lay on the grass.
"Is that a yes or a no?" Hermione asked playfully, peeking inside the packages.
"It's a yes." Sirius sat down next to Hermione on the grass.
"Okay." Hermione took out a sketchbook and a charcoal pencil. "We should start small." Hermione produced an orange. "We can start with this."
Sirius looked at the orange. "Is that all?"
"Be patient, Da Vinci," Hermione chided him. "You can get to Mona Lisa later."
"Who?"
"Never mind. Okay. The most important thing to remember is to see the orange clearly and see every detail of it."
Sirius scrutinized the orange. "Check."
"And you don't want too much detail."
Sirius took the pencil. "Right."
"Want to have a go at it?"
Sirius took the pencil and began to draw. He went painstakingly slowly; he wanted it perfect.
Hermione waited patiently, but after twenty minutes she grew bored and began to look around. They were sitting by the lake. Hermione saw fellow Hogwarts students working busily on homework. She saw a few students playing broom games. What affected her most, though, was all the girls looking at Sirius with longing. They looked at Hermione with utter loathing. Sirius was oblivious to all of them, as always. His dark hair fell perfectly and was glinted by the sunlight. His brow was furrowed in deep concentration. He was a god, plain and simple. Hermione knew he was impossibly handsome, and apparently this was a sentiment shared by plenty of other girls. So what's he doing with me? Hermione's insecurites came bombarding into her head. He could have every single girl here,she thought.And he probably has, Hermione conceded grimly. What was she doing with the Hogwarts god, who could leave her without a second thought?
Hermione looked over at Sirius again. He was still concentrating. Immediately a rush of tenderness overflowed her heart. She was with him because she liked him and he liked her. He'd make his feelings clear. Her insecurites were her problem.
"Finished!" He cried triumphantly. He flashed her the smile he used only with her.
"It's about time," Hermione joked. She took the drawing from him and was amazed. Sirius had drawn a circle, but apparently he'd gotten bored with the project. He drew the sun, a line for grass, and a few squiggly circles for clouds. Underneath, he'd written,
Sirius Black. All rights reserved.
Hermione burst out laughing. "Thisis what took you so long?"
Sirius feigned shock. "Are you saying it's not good?"
"No! I just. . ."
Sirius laughed. "No problem. I can't draw. I'm not like you, I can't see detail in inatimate things. I prefer the real thing." His gaze let her know he was talking about her.
"All right, then." Hermione conceded. "What did you bring for lunch?"
Sirius had brought pumpkin pastries, Cauldron Cakes, and treacle tarts.
"Where's the real food?" Hermione asked, at the risk of sounding picky.
"This is the real food." Sirius took a treacle tart and broke off a piece. Gently, he placed it inside her mouth.
Hermione laughed and covered her mouth. "It's good," she said.
"Really?"
"Yeah, try some." Hermione held a piece out to him.
Instead of taking the piece Sirius lunged playfully for Hermione's mouth and kissed her for a long time. When he was finished he said matter-of-factly, "It was good."
Hermione rolled her eyes. She took a Cauldron Cake. " I love these. I always have them on the train ride to school."
" You took a train ride to school at Beauxbatons?" Sirius asked curiously.
Hermione could have kicked herself for her utter stupidity. "Uh–yes, I did." she stammered. "My house was pretty far from Beauxbatons." She stood up quickly and stood in front of the easel again. Hermione picked up her paintbrush and tried to concentrate on the painting.
Sirius seemed satisfied with this. "And what are your friends like?"
Hermione smiled at this. She hadn't allowed herself to miss them completely yet. If she did she would burst out crying. "My friend Ha–er, Frank is really brave," Hermione told him. "His parents were killed when he was a baby," she said, her voice quavering slightly. At the mention of a male friend Sirius stiffened. Hermione saw this and assured him, "He's only my friend. He's in love with my other friend, Gi–Emma."
Sirius relaxed. "Go on."
"Okay. Well, Gi–Emma's the only girl in a house full of brothers, but she really stands out," Hermione said enthusiastically. The people she missed began to take shape and form in her mind. "She's really witty and full of life. She does get teased by Ron, though."
"Ron?"
Hermione apparently had someone looking out for her, because Severus walked up and she didn't have to answer about Ron.
"Severus!" Hermione cried, a little too enthusiastically. Sirius stiffened.
"Severus." Sirius said evenly.
Severus nodded curtly at Sirius and turned to Hermione with a smile. "We got full marks for the potion," he told her warmly.
Hermione clasped her hands together. "Excellent! I knew we would."
Severus looked at Hermione's painting. "That's good."
Hermione beamed with pride. Sirius began packing up the food.
Severus won points with Hermione when he said, "It's Hogwarts, isn't it?"
Hermione beamed widely. "Yes! Everyone else has no idea what it is."
"They wouldn't. They don't know good art when they see it." Severus began scrutinizing the painting. "I like the use of color here," he commented, pointing to a spot on the canvas. "It represents Hogwarts' power, right?"
Hermione was overjoyed, no one had ever understood abstract art that she had known. Not Ginny, not Harry, certainly not Ron. It was wonderful to have someone to talk to about it.
"You study art?" Hermione asked.
"I paint sometimes. I've seen abstract art before."
"Excellent."
Hermione and Severus chatted for a few more minutes, discussing their favorite artists.
"Da Vinci," Severus declared. "No question."
"I didn't know you studied Muggle artists."
"Art is art no matter who it is," Severus informed her gently. "Who is your favorite?"
"Monet."
He nodded. "You have good taste."
"Thanks. I was trying to teach Sirius here how to draw." Hermione turned around. Sirius was gone.
***
Sirius threw down the picnic basket in rage. Severus had been a git to hone in on his and Hermione's time together. And the nerve to have him sputter all that art nonsense. And what about Hermione? She'd lapped up all of Severus' rubbish. Didn't she know Severus was not a good person to get involved with? Sirius could understand why Severus liked Hermione, but she wasn't Severus' girl. She was his.
Severus had more in common with Hermione, Sirius reflected. They both enjoyed art. He'd understood what her painting was about. Sirius had honestly thought it was a bunch of swipes.
Hermione walked in, flushed from running to find Sirius.
"There you are," she said kindly. "Where did you go?"
Sirius looked down at her. She was so lovely. "I had to leave."
"You could have waited," she said playfully, kissing his cheek.
He recoiled from her touch. " I didn't want to sit there and listen to Severus fawn all over you. And watch you lap it up."
Hermione put her hands on her hips. "He's just a friend. Who happens to like art."
Sirius snorted. "You keep telling me he's a friend but every time you're with him I disappear."
Hermione was angry. "Come off your high horse, Sirius," she said, not mincing words. "It's not as if we were snogging right in front of you. It's you I want and I thought you knew that."
"I used to know that." "Why are you so jealous?" Hermione cried. "You know no one else compares to you."
Sirius turned back to her. Her words pierced his heart. "I know it," he said, stepping closer to her and putting his hands on her face. "It just drives me mad when I see you with other blokes. I know they're mad about you. And I don't want to lose you."
Immediately Hermione softened. This man knew how to apologise. "We're all right, then." Hermione breathed a sigh of relief.
"I know he keeps coming between us," she told him. "But not anymore. It's you and me now. I promise."
He kissed her then, and neither said anything else for hours.
MY REVIEWERS: PadfootsAngel1 Thank you! I am glad you like them! Riffinton: I really don't mean to make Sev mean. He really does care for Hermione and is just doing what he thinks is best. Siriusly Luvin It: I reviewed your fic! Loved it! CeLeStIaL BeInG: WOW! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!! You don't know how much I appreciate that!!! :) I think you've made my week. mystripedskirt: thanks! Yep, now we see why Sev is the way he is. But he really does care for our Hermione. s.s.harry ROFLMAO! That's so funny. I just might use that. Fallen Angel of Hell: Aw, don't be mad at Sev. Can't blame a guy for liking Hermione. Yep, she'll have to go home soon....sob. QueenofAngels1: Thanks! GL w/everything. Puffy Marshmallow: I looove your username! Thank you! A new reviewer, yay. Siria: Yep, she'll go back.......sob. Melody's Song: Hope you liked this chapter better! Neville Potter...lol. Raven Potter Weasley: Yeah, I was worried when you didn't review! I figured the chapter was bad, but it's ok now. :) someonelse: Hope you'll stay with me throughout the story! I update every Friday or Saturday. meeny:Oh I would love to see your story! Am glad I inspired you....we need more fanfics out there. Let me know ASAP so I can review. Willow 'Black Rose' Edra:Thanks....oh, you don't like 'lol?' Lol......I do... j/k What I mean when I said innovative was that it was unique and creative....guess I used the wrong adjective. silverfey: Don't hate him! He cares for our girl.