Disclaimer: I only own my ideas. As insane as they are, they are mine. All Harry Potter characters belong to the all wonderful J.K. Rowling.
Chapter 13: Feelings
Sirius watched Hermione very closely in the days that followed the Owlery incident. She looked so fragile, like she was going to break down at any moment. She tried to hide it though, but he saw right through her façade.
At her request, he told no one of what happened. He knew they wondered what had happened, but they knew better than to ask. Lily, with her helping nature, particularly wanted to know, but James kept her from asking.
James had finally got his act together and asked Lily out again. This time she said yes. Now they were inseparable!
Sirius felt a little jealous of Lily because she spent so much time with James. They hardly ever pulled any pranks anymore because James was always with Lily.
He knew he could hang out with both of them but it wasn't the same. Remus was doing something secretive and wouldn't tell anyone. Peter could hardly be found anymore. So that left Hermione.
He didn't complain about being able to spend more time with Hermione. He enjoyed everything about her. She was smart, pretty, and fun. The only thing that scared him was his growing feelings for her. Now he understood James' feelings for Lily. He was living them. And with each passing day, and each moment in her company, his feelings grew.
The days grew cold and snow began to fall. Hermione started to worry that she would never be able to go home. This would be the first Christmas in a long time that she hasn't spent with Harry or Ron. It was weird to think that instead she was going to be spending it with Harry's parents and godfather.
No, she couldn't think of it that way. She had to think of them as they were now. Not as they are in the future. That would only bring sadness and pain.
And then there was Sirius. She knew she shouldn't have feelings for him- he was Harry's godfather! But there was something there every time she looked at him that she couldn't identify. Could she have feelings for him? She didn't know.
She decided to stop her thoughts for a little while and go down to the common room. But she soon realized that was a mistake. There was only one person occupying the common room. There, stretched out on the couch, was Sirius.
She had been avoiding him, she knew. She was still embarrassed about the whole Owlery incident. It was silly to be embarrassed but that didn't change the fact that she was.
As if sensing her presence, Sirius turned and looked at her. A smile slowly spread across his face and realizing no escape, she smiled back. Leaving her spot in the doorway, she made her way over to the couch to sit.
"Hey," she said sitting down.
"Why have you been avoiding me?" Sirius asked bluntly.
"I haven't," Hermione denied.
"Liar."
"Okay, maybe I have been. I'm just a little embarrassed about what happened."
"Don't be. It wasn't your fault."
"I know but…"
"No buts," he interjected. "So, there's a Hogsmeade trip scheduled for this weekend."
"Really?" she asked trying to sound like she never heard of Hogsmeade before. "Hogsmeade?"
"It's an entire wizarding village."
"Wow…wait, I think I've heard of it."
"Well I was thinking that since you didn't know your way around Hogsmeade and since James and Lily will go together that maybe we could…"
Hermione looked at his embarrassed face and giggled. "Sirius, are you asking me out?"
Sirius looked at her and was at a loss for words for a moment. He had never had trouble asking a girl out before, they usually asked him out. But here he was, afraid to ask this girl out. He was afraid she would say no.
"Um…yes, I am." He took a deep breath and said, "Will you go to Hogsmeade with me?"
She looked at how embarrassed he was and couldn't deny him. "Yes Sirius, I will go with you."
A/NOkay, again I apologize for how long it is taking me to get these posted. I still don't have my internet so I have to send the chapters through my friend to get them posted. Between track practice, envirothon practice, and countless other practices we are having a little trouble exchanging the disk the story is saved on. I know, excuses, excuses…. I hope you like the story. The next chapter is going to be the Hogsmeade trip. Please review! Thank you to all my current reviewers for hangin in there with me.
