Disclaimer - I don't own anything you recognize.
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The story so far: Arthur Weasley is Minister of Magic, Percy is head of the Magical Law Inforcement. Percy is re-united with his family. Voldemort is still out there and people are aware that he has returned. Harry, Ron, and Hermione are all 19, and full-time Aurors.
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Chapter One - Meetings at Nightfall
"Jake, stop it!" Cried a female voice from a dark Alleyway. Another man, by that name of Sirius Black, who had been passing by this alleyway, froze to listen to the conversation.
"Give me what I want from you. You keep telling me you want to 'wait' or we'll do it after we get married. I sure as hell ain't marrying you, but I want something from you that will make our relationship worth it!" Said a sharp male voice.
"I am not giving you anything! I cannot believe I even agreed to meet you in this god-forsaken place. Now move out of my way before I hex you into oblivion!" The girl said coolly, obviously regaining her composure.
"Don't fool me. You are not as powerful as you and your pitiful friends are made out to be in the papers. Boy who lived, my ass!" Jake sneered.
"Invegido Artificus!" Commanded the girl. The man ducked.
"You've got to do better than that! Let me show you how its done!" The man said, following his words with a chilly, bitter laugh.
"Crucio!" He screamed
"Protego!" The girl shrieked.
"Don't think you can outsmart me, mudblood. You might be my girlfriend, but I own you!" The man yelled.
"Oh fuck off, Jake. I'm through with you. Its over. In fact, it was over even before we met here." Said the female.
"Expellarmus!" Commanded the man. The girl's wand flew into the man's hand.
"Now, baby .. lets see how strong you are without your wand" The man cooed. And with that, he pinned her to the ground.
"Get off of me, you idiot!" the girl said shrilly. The man let out an evil laugh. The sound of clothes ripping could be heard.
"Enjoy this, Granger. You're still a virgin, and I'm the one who's going to break you! You know you're still in love with me." The man said strongly.
"Are you out of your fucking mind? I don't love you! I never did! I'm not in love with you! I'm in love with Sirius!" The girl screamed, but then grew eerily silent, realizing what she had said. Silence filled the entire alleyway. Those words brought Sirius sharply back to earth. Wait a second .. He called her Granger .. Oh my god! Hermione! Sirius thought, horrified.
"Sirius? Sirius Black?" The man said, shocked and unable to say anything else. Sirius decided it was time to do something.
"Do you know any other?" Sirius said, stepping out of the shadows.
"YOU! What the fuck are you doing here!" The man yelled, fuming. Sirius did a double-take.
"Wellington?! JAKE Wellington?!" Sirius said, his voice dripping with anger.
Hermione looked ready to faint. "Sirius? OH! I'm so glad to see you!" Hermione exclaimed, breathing relief and started to rush towards him, before she was pulled back by Jake.
"You're with me, Babe" He purred, wrapping his arm around her waist, suddenly acting very seductive towards her. Hermione looked utterly disgusted.
"Step away from her, Wellington" Sirius said, coolly but calmly. Wellington laughed.
"Why?"
"I can't have you manhandling my woman, can I now?" Sirius said smoothly, sending Hermione a reassuring wink. What on earth is going on here? Oh whatever.. just play along. Sirius will get you out of this mess.. Hermione thought shrewdly.
"Your woman? I think not, Black. You might have had every girl in school, but this one's mine. And a nice piece of ass, might I add. Much classier than most of the women you've been with, don't you think?" Jake said coolly.
"I do NOT belong to you, Jake. I never did! We're over! Through! Finit!" Hermione shrieked.
"Now, Wellington. You heard her. Let her go, or suffer. God knows, she might turn lesbian after dating you." Sirius said calmly. Jake scowled.
"She'll never be yours Black! She's too good for you!" He yelled, glaring at Sirius. Finally, he did release her.
Hermione's clothes were horribly ripped. She was wearing an already-revealing, low-cut, short dress, but on top of that, Jake had ripped it in various places, revealing her black satin bra.
As soon as Jake released her, she ran to Sirius, who hugged her tightly. But he broke away abruptly, remembering something.
"Expellarmus!" He whispered, pointing his wand at Jake's. Jake's wand swiftly flew into Sirius's hand.
"What the fuck are you doing, Black? You got the girl. Like always. Or is she not enough? Did you just realize she was a mudblood? You know, your family would have been utterly disappointed, not that they aren't already-" Jake said with a twisted smile.
"BANG!"
Snake-like cords flew out of Sirius's wand, twisting themselves around Jake. Sirius was glaring madly.
"Don't you ever call her a mudblood again. She's utterly beautiful, with an amazing mind that is triple your size in knowledge. Shes an amazing woman, and you know it. Move on, Wellington. She's over and done with you" Sirius said, his voice rising with every word. "Besides, you used an unforgivable on her. I believe this calls for some ministry involvement.." Sirius said, smiling slightly, making him look slightly maniacal.
Hermione stood beside Sirius, dumb footed. Did Sirius just call me beautiful? Did he just call me smart? Did he just call me an amazing woman?! Hermione thought wildly. She suddenly realized Sirius had his arm wrapped protectively around her waist.
"Immobilus!" Sirius said. Jake was now following behind Sirius and Hermione, being controlled by Sirius. Sirius turned to Hermione. "Are you alright? Oh, I hope he didn't do anything to you.." He said, his eyes scanning Hermione for cuts, scrapes, bruises etc. His eyes fell to Hermione's ripped dress. "Oh! Take this" He said quickly, handing Hermione his cloak. Hermione threw him a grateful smile.
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They arrived at the Ministry thirty minutes later. "Sirius Black, Hermione Granger, Jake Wellington. Here to see Percy Weasley in the Magical Law Inforcement department." Sirius said. Three badges appeared, all with their names on it.
Hermione bit her lip nervously, just before they arrived at Percy's office. How would Percy react when he saw Hermione in such a state? He'd probably run off and tell his mother, Ron, Harry and the rest of the family. They had all met Jake, and seemed to get along quite well with him.
"Relax" Sirius whispered in her ear, noticing his nervousness. Sirius knocked at the door.
"Come in" Came a curt voice from behind the door. They entered.
Percy Weasley was sitting at a very large desk. He was so involved with his work, that he didn't even look up to see who it was.
"Hello, my name is Mr. Weasley. What might be the problem?" He said monotonously, not even taking his eyes off his work.
"Perc, we've brought Wellington" Sirius said. Percy looked up, startled at the informality. Only family and family friends called him Perc.
"Sirius! Hermione! .. Jake?" Percy said, observing the tied-up man. Sirius then proceeded to tell Percy the entire story. Hermione looked expressionless.
"Used an Unforgivable, hmm?" Percy said, looking apparently deep in thought. "Well, considering that it didn't actually hit you, and you used the Protego charm to sheild her, he might not get full sentencing. We'll see. Its a good thing you used the Protego charm, too" Percy said to Hermione. Hermione nodded.
"However, his two intentions tonight will earn him some trouble" Percy said with a note of finality. "I'll take him from here, Sirius. Could you take care of Hermione?" Percy asked, turning to Sirius. Sirius nodded.
Once they were out of the ministry, Sirius turned to Hermione. "Would you like to go home? Or would you rather go to the Order headquarters? Or my house?" He asked. Hermione didn't want to go back to her lonely flat, she really didn't want to go to the Order headquarters tonight, because she'd probably be interrogated or fused over. Staying at Sirius's house could prove to be a bit awkward .. but..
"Staying at either my house or yours could prove to be the best option, considering that Molly is currently at the Order.. Unless you want to be fussed over" Sirius said with a grin. Hermione laughed.
"Well, I definitely don't want to be fussed over, and I don't really want to be alone tonight.." Hermione said, trailling off. Sirius raised an eyebrow, and grinned.
"My house it is then!" Sirius said cheerfully. Hermione laughed. She briefly noticed that his arm was still around her waist protectively, before they apparated to Sirius's house.
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"Well, its not much .. I inherited it from my uncle.." Sirius said dryly. 'Its not much' was an understatement. The place was quite large. It had 4 bedrooms. Two were occupied by Sirius and Harry (who lived together) and two were guest bedrooms. Harry was spending the weekend at the Order. (where the Weasley's were)
"You can have the guest bedroom between me and Harry's bedroom" Sirius said, noticing where Hermione's gaze was. "Would you like to eat something? Something to drink?" Sirius asked, playing host. Hermione grinned.
"Hmm, sure. A butterbeer would be rather nice right now" Hermione said absentmindedly. Sirius nodded.
"Two butterbeers it is, then" He said, walking towards the kitchen. He soon returned with two butterbeers in his hand. He tossed one to Hermione, who was sitting on his leather couch, and sat down beside her.
"Now, tell me .. How did this start?" He asked. Hermione bit her lip.
"Well, me and Jake have dated for a couple months. Wow! That just reminds me of how long its been since I last saw you.." Hermione said. Sirius had changed. His hair was now much shorter, an almost replica of Harry's hair. His eyes were full of life, sparkling with mischief and excitement. His skin was tanned perfectly, and it looked as if he had been working out.
"I met him at a DADA conference I attended a couple months ago. He was really sweet and charming. He always trying to turn our snogging sessions into something more, but I always stopped him. He wasn't really ever forceful. Then, this evening, I got an owl from him saying to meet him in the Alleyway at 6pm, just after dark. And I believe you know the rest." Sirius nodded. It made him slightly sick thinking of Hermione snogging such vermin like him, or anyone, for that matter..
"And now, tell me.. How exactly do you know Jake Wellington?" Hermione asked curiously. Sirius's expressions darkened.
"Wellington and I were in the same year. He was a Slytherin, but I don't think he ever became a death eater. He kept to himself mostly, but he was a huge flirt." Sirius explained. Hermione snorted.
"Like you were?" Hermione asked, smilling slightly.
"Still am" He said with a wink. "Anyhow, me and him, uh .. Made a bet on girls, and he lost. He's been resentful towards me ever since. But come to think of it, we never really liked each other from the beginning." Sirius explained. Hermione narrowed her eyes.
"A bet? What kind of bet?" Hermione asked curiously. Sirius blushed ever-so-slightly.
"Doesn't matter" He said unimportantly. Hermione coughed.
"Of course it does. You're hiding something!" She said, almost gleefully. Sirius laughed.
"If you want to know, you're gonna have to force it out of me" He said, smirking. Hermione returned his smirk. Without warning, she jumped on him, forcing him down on the couch. She quickly dissarmed him. She looked down at him.
"I'll repeat the question.. What kind of bet?" She asked, grinning. Sirius looked shocked.
"Damn you woman! How is it possible that you can dissarm me and get on top of me, the great Sirius Black?" He asked. Hermione snorted.
"I'm an Auror" She replied, smirking.
"Fine. You won. It was a bet .. On how many girls we could bed in a week" Sirius said, grinning. Hermione made a small noise of disbelief. Then muttered something that sounded like 'boys!'
"How many did you get?" Hermione asked. Once again, Sirius hesitated to answer.
"Nine" He said, really quietly. Hermione heard him, but pretended she didn't.
"Sorry, how many did you say? Didn't quite hear you.." She said cheerfully. Sirius groaned.
"Nine" He replied, louder than before. Hermione laughed.
"Poor innocent girls" She replied, giggling slightly. Sirius rolled his eyes.
"I do regret it though. They were all sluts. I've never honestly had a lay that meant anything.." He responded. Hermione looked at him with a slightly surprised expression.
"It'll come someday" Hermione replied. Then Sirius, without warning, swiftly flipped her over, so that he was on top of her. Hermione squeaked.
"What about you? A virgin, eh? How'd you manage that?" He asked with a lop-sided grin.
"Well, you see, its easy .. you just keep your legs together" Hermione replied with a smirk. Sirius laughed.
"A lesson a lot of women could learn. Not that i'm complaining.." Sirius replied.
"Playboy" Hermione muttered. Sirius grinned. Then he got off of her, and sat beside her. Hermione sat up as well, and straightened her robes.
"So .. Did you mean what you said earlier?" He asked rather uncomfortably. It took Hermione a couple of seconds to realize what he was talking about.
"Yes. I know you probably look upon me as an inferior, as just a kid. I'll have you know i'm 19 though, not a kid anymore. You know what? Just forget about it.." Hermione said, avoiding his eyes, looking down at the couch. Sirius gently tipped her up up, to meet his eyes.
"I can't forget it." He replied, in a low, sexy voice. "Because I feel the same way" He said.
Hermione nearly fainted.
"You do? Really?" She asked, slightly more happier voice. Sirius grinned and nodded. He then looked at his watch.
"Its 7:30pm .. You hungry?" He asked. Hermione nodded. "How about I take you to Vitarra Demanch?" He asked casually. "Consider it a date, if you like. I can show you how a real man behaves" He said, winking. Hermione smiled.
"A date it is. Can I apparate back to my flat and change first, though?" Hermione asked, getting up off the couch. Sirius got up as well.
"Of course. See you in a couple minutes?" He asked. Hermione shook her head.
"Don't you know girls take much more than that to get ready?" She laughed. Sirius grimanced.
"Oh yeah. Its all coming back to me know.." He said, laughing as well.
A small 'Pop!' could be heard, leaving Sirius to get ready for his first real date in a long time.
Author's Note: There it is. Yet another story -grins- .. Enjoy! Next chapter coming soon! Please read and review .. I luff reviews!