Chapter 29
Dance Lessons
Set in the summer when they are all at Grimmauld Place, minus Harry. Fifth year.
It was pouring rain outside and the inhabitants of Grimmauld Place were inside, enjoying the coziness.
It was early July; Hermione had arrived a few days before. She had quickly settled in. Sirius had let Hermione and Ginny go through the attic. They had spent days poring over old pictures and clothes.
Sirius was gazing longingly at a photo. Hermione walked up to him. She could see on the back of the picture that it was dated 1976. When Sirius saw Hermione he jumped and quickly hid the picture. Hermione only caught a glimpse of it. It had Sirius and a smiling woman.
"What is it?" Sirius asked, flustered.
"Oh–Ginny and I unearthed your old record player. Can we put it in?" Hermione asked.
Sirius smiled. "All right. I haven't seen that in years," he said, looking wistful.
Ginny and Hermione set it up downstairs. Ginny weeded through the old records before selecting one. She picked 'Time in a Bottle.'
The music filled the room. "If I could save time in a bottle...." Jim Croce crooned.
Sirius bowed low in front of Hermione. "May I have this dance?" he asked, sounding oddly hopeful.
Hermione blushed. "I...I can't dance."
Sirius smiled at her with a sense of adoration. "I'll teach you." When Hermione looked hesitant, he said, "Trust me."
Hermione put her hand in Sirius'. He led her to the middle of the room.
"All right," Sirius said. "The man always leads."
"Always?" Hermione asked skeptically.
"Yes–unless he is a wimp," Sirius quipped. He put her arm on his shoulder and took her other hand in his own. "Try and follow me..one two three, one two three,...."
Hermione was wobbly at first, and was about to trip when Sirius' strong arms caught her. She smiled nervously. "I'm sorry, Sirius. I don't think I was cut out for this."
"Sure you were," he said. "Keep trying." He wouldn't give up on her. Over the course of a few songs she finally got it right.
"Good job!" Sirius said encouragingly. They swept gracefully around the room. He spun her around.
"Where'd you learn to dance like this?" Hermione asked curiously.
Sirius had a faraway look in his eyes. "When I was about seventeen, someone taught me to dance...someone special."
"Who?" Hermione asked.
Sirius smiled wistfully. "The love of my life."
"I never knew you had a girlfriend!" Hermione cried, giggling.
"She was more than my girlfriend," he said seriously. "She was my soulmate."
"Does she live around here?" Hermione asked.
"Well...." Sirius thought for a moment. "Yes and no."
"Oh." Hermione could think of nothing more to say. She leaned against Sirius, who seemed somber and detached.