The Silver Ring
Hermione wrote in her diary, This Christmas is not what I expected at all. Actually, I don't even know what I was expecting. All I know is that Sirius and I are alone together and it's making me confused. . .
She could never write all that she felt for Sirius in her diary. It was too personal even for a book of private thoughts. The feelings stayed in her soul.
Night was approaching and Hermione was at a loss of what to do.
Sirius had gone to fetch some more cocoa, after she'd told him she wanted more. She dashed up to her dormitory and wrote in her diary.
The truth was, she knew Sirius was fast with girls. There was no way around it. He slept around. She had to face the facts head on so that she could make a sound decision. She knew he would not force her, but. . .when she was with him she felt that he could do anything to her because it felt so good.
Sirius returned with the cocoa. Hastily Hermione put the diary away. She beamed at him. He looked up for a moment and gasped, "Why, Hermione! What's this?" She looked up from their perch on the couch and saw mistletoe.
"You planned this," Hermione cried accusingly.
"Oh, I hoped for it," He replied unblushingly. He leaned forward eagerly.
Hermione threw everything out of her head and kissed him. She had meant for it to be a chaste kiss, but he deepened it. She leaned against him; it was necessary, for she could not have stood on her own. She was melting into him. Gradually his lips moved from hers and grazed an earlobe. When he heard the low moan from her he ran his teeth over the lobe again. She could feel the effect she had on him. His forehead was against hers and his eyes opened. Their gray depths held unmistakable desire. "Hermione. . ."
She swallowed hard. The contraception charm was on her bedside table; there was no around, they had all the time in the world. She sighed. She could let him touch her in places that she'd never let anyone touch her.
Finally, after what seemed like a lifetime–for that was what it took for her to be able to think coherently–she made up her mind. "Sirius. I can't."
She expected an argument but got none. He just nodded and stood back. He reached a hand out to touch her hair. He stroked it as if it were pure gold, as if it were too precious to touch. Finally, he took his hand back and let out a deep sigh, one that seemed to come from his core.
When it grew late, and Hermione was practically falling asleep on Sirius' shoulder, Sirius gently woke her. "Want me to carry you to your bed?" he asked softly. Before she could panic, he grinned. "And then I'll go to my bed. Okay?" She nodded sleepily and he lifted her as if she weighed nothing. Realizing he could not go up to her dormitory, he took her up to his so at least she'd be comfortable in a bed. He laid her on his bed and covered her. Thinking she was asleep, he kissed her forehead and turned to go. To his surprised she reached her arms out to him. "Please. . .don't go. I don't want to be alone." He turned back, surprised. "But you said. . ."
"I know what I said. But please stay with me anyway."
Sirius smiled. There was no way he could down a request from her. Hermione moved aside to make room for him and he climbed in. She took his arms and wrapped them around herself, half-sleepily. It would be torture, pure torture to lay with her all night. But then he saw her smile, and that made it all right.
Hermione awoke to find that the sheets upon which she lay were not her own; the blankets that covered her were not the color she'd always known. Where was she? She felt a pair of arms around her. It was Sirius. She panicked. Had they? When she realised they were both fully clothed, she relaxed. They hadn't. The light of the morning helped her see things more clearly, and she was glad they had not moved forward.
Hermione watched Sirius' face. He had a half-smile on his face and she grinned slyly as she thought of what he could be dreaming of. Gently she ran a finger lightly down his cheek. Lovingly. He looked so innocent and childlike when he slept. Vulnerable. She kissed his brow and he opened one sleepy eye.
"Mmm?" He murmured drowsily. She put her finger on his lips and he closed his eyes again.
Not wanting to disturb him, Hermione climbed out of the bed slowly and went downstairs. To her surprise she found a letter addressed to her.
Hermione,
I've made all the arrangements. My mother has a room ready for her at St. Eustace's. I need your help. I need your help in getting her there safely. If you agree, please come to the Astronomy Tower at midnight tomorrow. From there we'll fly to my mother's house. If you feel bad about lying to Sirius, remember what I told you: he'll believe anything you tell him because he wants to.
S.S.
She had to go, this she knew. The problem was lying to Sirius about it. She sat there for a long time. She could tell him she was studying. At midnight? No. Making him a surprise? Then she'd have to think of one. A Sleeping Draught? Oh, no. She could never do that to him. It was funny what desperation could make you think of.
She looked idly at the clock. Eleven in the morning. . .Eleven. Sirius slept late.
That was it. She'd bank on his sleeping late.
Then she realized it was Christmas!
Christmas! How could she have forgotten? Hermione jumped up and ran to the dormitory. "Sirius!" she shrieked.
He jumped up in a panic. "Wha? Whazzat?"
"Oh, I'm sorry!" she calmed him. "Happy Christmas, though, love."
He grinned at her, his rumpled hair making him seem even more lovable. "Well, then, let's get to the gifts." He slung her over his shoulder and ran down the stairs.
Hermione and Sirius caught up their gift for each other and held them behind their backs awkwardly. Finally both whipped them out at the same time.
The packaging was identical. They laughed.
"Oh, Sirius." She took her gift and handed him his.
He unwrapped it to reveal the gold necklace with their initials intertwined. As he touched it, a glow spread through his body. He could not explain the glow, he simply knew that as long as he wore the chain they'd be bound together.
A similar glow spread through Hermione and she smiled secretly to herself; the Binding Charm worked. Now their hearts were intertwined. She knew the Charm could only work if both felt the same way about the other.
Hermione opened her own box. It held a silver ring. The ring looked surprising ancient. It had the letter B, surrounded by a crest of some sort. Hermione put it on and a strong ancient magic seemed to surround her.
"It's my family crest ring," Sirius told her. "Been in the family for generations."
"Sirius," Hermione said in awe, "I can't keep this." She took it off, and the magic wore off. But Sirius closed her hand over the ring. "Keep it," he told her. "It's a gift."
She looked doubtful, but he grinned. "Hey. The ring has just about every protection spell known to wizard imbedded on it. Every generation adds a new spell. You're pretty much immortal when you wear it."
"Really?"
"How d'you think I warded off all those hexes Snape tried to give me?"
She smiled and put it on. "Well, if you're sure. . .I'll make you a deal. When I'm ready to. . .you know. . .I'll give the ring back to you. As a symbol."
"Deal."
They headed down to breakfast. Hermione held Sirius' hand proudly as they strolled together. On the way she passed Severus; she gave him a look of affirmation.
He nodded in the same way, and moved on.
Midnight.