(A/N) sorry for any confusion over the whole bar/pub thing. I've only ever been to a few pubs in London, but I know what the bars are like in the US, and that is what is in my mind for this next scene. To clear up any misconceptions, this is the setting of the next scene-a particularly shady bar, dark and really smoky. Loud music is playing, and lots of people are dancing. There is a bar for drinks, and a few smaller tables in the shadows. There are pool tables, (I think its called billiards in England?) and lots of dark corners and shady characters. Ok, I hope I cleared this up, I realized I was using both terms and didn't want to confuse anyone
Thanks to my reviewers! You guys are great :)
Devy Black- heehee faster? But if i went too fast the story would be over and done with! I'll try to speed up the updating, but they're not even Hogwarts yet -grin-dont worry, they'll get there :)
RainynDawn- thank you! I've been trying to weave a tangled web... this next chapter threw Harry for a loop, who knows what might happen... ;)
BlackPaintedWhite- I'm sorry to say that this chapter ends once again in a bit of a cliffhanger -heehee- but i'll try to update soon and end the suspense! Does 2:20 am count as Sunday night? lol
The all mighty and powerfulM- heehee yes, but the question is, does Harry like her? We'll soon see-well maybe not soon-but we'll see!
MoonyNZ- haha i was getting the same message when i tried to log on to read your story! please update soon! the suspense! lol- thanks, thats my favorite line in the story so far! but i honestly came upon it by accident :)
trurose- thanks! sorry it took awhile, here u go!
conquer the world using bunny- haha i love your name- oo yes johnney depp is alot like Sirius- old but HOT! thats why i came up with a way to make him young for this story- i couldnt have hermione being with a 40 something year old man, i wanted him to be the younger sexy sirius! (not that he isnt sexy as an older guy)
amrawo- thank you so so so so so so so much:) heres your update!
Ariesbaby- well heres the update, but im afraid this chapter may have tangled it even more... (evil grin)
profet- thank you! that is such a huge compliment, and yes i love the protectiveness- it may have waned a little as he gets used to Dean, but dont worry, it will fire back up again :)
EsScaper- well im not sure this is what you wanted to see happen, but dont worry there will be other bars... (cough cough-HOGSMEAD-cough cough)
donttouchmysexyferret- thank you! im also a fan of draco/hermione, and I cant wait to read your fic!
LittleMissPadfoot- oooo good idea! that may show up in a later chapter :)
i hope i didnt forget anyone! sorry if i did, its 2:30 in the morning now, and despite my insomnia, im feeling a bit tired...
Sorry the update took so long, I had alot of trouble on this chapter, and not a whole lot of time- but to make up for it, this chapter is really really long!
I do NOT own anything Harry Potter- that belongs to the genius that is J.K. Rowling
"Ok, is everyone all set to go?" Hermione asked above the hubbub of her excited friends. (Ron and Dean were loudly discussing, for the third time, how they had managed to knock Sirius off his broom, and Hermione noticing his dangerous expression, decided to get things going.
"Getting nervous Hermione?" Piped up Ron as she herded the group out the door. "You wish!" she shot back, along with a confident laugh. She caught Sirius' eye and he was grinning like mad. He liked this side of her. It was her wild, uninhibited side, not bothered by rules or restrictions. Hermione quickly turned away and walked faster to catch up with Harry and Ginny (who was now slightly annoyed that her brother and Dean were getting along, and wouldn't stop discussing the bloody quidditch game).
They walked a little ways down the alley, towards the main street, to hail a taxi. "Hey!" Ron paused from quidditch talk for a moment to notice they were walking out toward the main street. "Why the hell are we walking and paying for a taxi? Lets just apparate there!" Harry turned "Think about it for a minute Ron. Hermione, Ginny and Dean don't know how to apparate yet." Hermione looked up guiltily andcleared her throat nervously.
"Well actually..." She spoke up, causing everyone to stop in their tracks and turn to look at her. "See what I mean" spoke Sirius in a confident drawl, grinning ear to ear "Our Hermione has changed! Way to go, is this the first law you've broken?" Hermione grinned back despite herself and considered this for a moment. "Well maybe it is and maybe it isn't..." she trailed off, and laughed with Ginny as they continued to walk on.
Sirius shook his head and walked on, hands in his pockets, grinning at Hermione's back. The boys were now starting to get used to being shocked by what they learned about Hermione bit by bit. The only one still having trouble adjusting was Ron, but he was quickly distracted by the opportunity to hail a cab as they reached the main street.
Ron had inherited some of his dad's obsession with muggle customs, and he jumped up and down, waving madly at a passing taxi. When it failed to stop, he flung his arms up in the air "What the hell was that!"
Hermione and Ginny who had gotten quite giggly, pushed him aside "Oh never mind." Said Hermione "We'll do it" She and Ginny flipped their hair and smiled as they waved at a passing taxi. It screeched to a halt, leaving skid marks on the street. Harry and Ron didn't like the close attention the taxi driver paid Hermione as she climbed in, but before Ron could say something (and they had all been waiting for it) Sirius spoke up.
"Hey why don't you keep your eyes on the road?" He growled aggressively. The driver shot him a glare "Calm down buddy, or do you want to get out and wait for another taxi?" Hermione looked at Sirius and saw that he had both fists clenched tightly. She quickly interrupted this exchange between the driver and the infuriated Sirius. "Umm Ron where exactly are we going? You haven't told me yet" Harry, Ron and Dean all smirked at one another (Sirius was still fuming, and was staring determinedly out the window, glancing sideways at the driver every now and then).
"63 Bradshaw street" Ron told the driver, trying to conceal a grin of triumph. "What are you three smirking at?" Asked Ginny, looking from guy to guy. "You'll see soon enough" was all Ron said. And they did.
The driver pulled up to a curb at the dingy-est, sketchy-est (A/N sketchy means creepy) and most crowded bar Hermione had ever seen. However, there were some well dressed people coming in and out, so it didn't seem too bad. Ron had been watching her expression, with a gleam in his eyes. "Want to turn back Hermione? You don't have to go through with this if you feel uncomfortable." Sirius watched her with a raised eyebrow. Hermione once again tossed her hair, and stuck her tongue out at Ron. "Just promise me one thing Ron, don't be too protective, and leave me alone. I would like to be able to flirt with some guys without you scaring them away."
She climbed out of the cab, leaving behind a nervous looking Ron. Dean helped Ginny out of the cab, and Harry Ron and Sirius climbed out of the cab, getting more than a few glances from a group of girls smoking near the entrance. Sirius noticed this and walked up to them. He nodded his head at the cigarettes "Hey can I bum one?"
Hermione had been the first one in, and waited just inside the entrance for her friends to catch up. "Where's Sirius?" She asked when he failed to appear through the doorway. "Oh he's already found a group of girls- he's smoking with them just outside" answered Harry, taking her arm, guiding her through the crowd towards the bar. The rest followed them, Hermione's insides burning with jealousy.
She had been looking forward to being around Sirius tonight, especially when she could blame anything that went too far on the alcohol. She clenched her teeth and sat down at the bar. Ginny and Dean had wandered off to one of the darkened tables after ordering a pint each. Harry and Ron sat to her left. Before Hermione could order her own drink, a guy had zoomed over to her and sat down on the empty stool beside her.
She turned and quickly looked him up and down.. He was pretty cute, he was no Sirius, but he had sandy blonde long-ish hair and hazel eyes. He had a nice body too. She gave him a sexy grin, and got one in return. "Hey gorgeous, can I get you a drink?" She heard Ron choke on his own drink but she answered as though she had not "Sure, I'll have a pint"
At that moment Ron and Harry probably could have put a few charms to good use. However,they were both quicklydistracted by two girls who had come over to drag them off to dance. Hermione and the guy, whose name was Alden, became friendlier and friendlier as it got later... and as they got drunker.
They eventually left their barstools- after Ron and the brunette girl that had dragged him off to dance sat down at the bar across from them. Hermione didn't need to see those patronizing glances, and she didn't want to think'sensibly' right now, she only wanted to have a good time.
After getting sick of Ron's glares from across the counter, she put down her mug. "Hey" she said, leaning in close to Alden's face, pulling him in by his shirt collar. "Do you wanna go somewhere a little less crowded?" In the crowded, noisy, and smoky room, Hermione didn't notice Sirius staring at her, downing shots, as she dragged the panting Alden over to a dark table in the corner. She pushed him down in a chair "C'mere" he pulled her down onto his lap. She didn't reallyknow what she was doing, she had had alot to drink. She straddled him on the chair, and arched back, tossing her hair off of her shoulders, and giving him a nice view at the same time. "You are hottttttt" he slurred, and pulled her in for a kiss.
Harry had been pulled out to dance by a short, pretty redhead. He threw a few glaces back at Hermione as he left the bar, but was quickly distracted- this girl could dance. The floor was crowded with dancing couples, and a few times Harry and his partner were separated by the pulsing crowd.
One of these times Ginny swam into view, right in front of Harry. She was pushed into him, and he steadied her. She turned around and gave him a mischievous smile. He could see Dean, not too far away, dancing with the red head he had been dancing with just a few seconds before. Before he knew what was happening, he felt Ginny's hands on his neck and he automatically reached out for her waist. They went in time with the music, pressing their bodies up against one another. Harry's breathing grew heavy, and before he knew what he was doing, he had leaned in for a kiss...
Alden kissed Hermione roughly- she had been putting up with it the whole evening. Though he was not a good kisser-most drunk guys weren't-she didn't care about that right now. She rubbed his arms and shoulders and he moaned into the kiss. He moved his hands down her back and pulled her in closer. This guy really doesn't know what the hell he is doing- or he's just waaay to smashed. Either way, he cannot kiss.
Hermione tried to pull away, but he held her tighter and continued to kiss- well continued to ATTEMPT to kiss her. Finally he broke away from the kiss. "I'm going to get more drinks, so don't go anywhere sexy" Alden lifted Hermione off his lap and put her in the chair he had just vacated. He stumbled off toward the bar, and Hermione, wiping her mouth, looked around.
She could just make out the top of Dean's head, dancing with what looked like the top of Ginny's head- all she could see was red hair. Harry was kissing someone, but all she could make out were the girl's arms around his neck. Her gaze traveled around the room and finally, with a jolt, rested on Sirius. He was standing not too far away, leaning against the wall, attached by the lips to some girl.
Hermione's eyes narrowed and she got up from her chair, not sure what she would do, but intending to go over there and get the girl off of Sirius. Her Sirius. She didn't care if Harry or Ron saw them. She had been wanting tobe with him all night, and now she was going to go for it.
Unfortunately she hadn't gone more than a few, faltering steps before Alden made his way back to their table clutching two foaming mugs. "Where do you think you're going?" He teased, putting the drinks on the table and pulling her to him once more. "I've gotta go" She murmured, not looking at him, as she pushed away. "Woah not so fast sweetheart, you're staying with me" He reached back out for her, sat down and pulled her back on top of him.
Hermione tried to push his hands away, but he laughed drunkenly and ignored her feeble attempts to escape. Her anger had been building, and finally snapped. She slapped his face with all of her strength. It seemed to stun him for a moment, and she took the opportunity to get up off of his lap. His expression of shock was quickly replaced by drunken anger, and he stood up, pushing her to the floor. Hermione screamed, hitting the floor hard on her way down.
She looked up at the drunkenly swaying Alden, advancing toward her. Movement from behind him caught her eye and she looked away. She saw Sirius starting toward them, looking more furious than she had ever seen him. But Hermione was not going to wait around to be the damsel in distress. She was pissed. She lashed out, kicking Alden's legs out from underneath him.
He hit the floor just as Sirius reached him. Alden, not noticing the angry man coming up behind him, got up "You little bitch!" heswore, and started towards her, hand raised. He didn't make it another step.
Sirius grabbed Alden's shoulder from behind, spinning him around.He punched him hard in the jaw. Blood and spit flew from Alden's mouth as his head whipped around, and he crashed to the floor unconscious. He lay sprawled on his stomach, his head turned to the side. A trickle of blood started to creep from his mouth, forming a steady river, down his cheek, and pooling on the floor.
Hermione stood up, and stepped around the unconscious Alden. "Are you ok?" Sirius asked. Normally, Hermione would have been grateful for his help, but she was drunk and insanely jealous of the blonde he had been kissing a moment before. It didn't help things that the same blonde had just came up behind Sirius, and was staring at the scene from behind his shoulder. If Hermione hadn't been as drunk as she was, she may have noticed that the whole bar was watching along with the blonde.
"No I am not fucking ok! I could have taken him on my own! I didn't need any help" She swayed drunkenly on the spot and raised a hand, not sure what she was going to do, but thinking she might attempt to slap him. Instead, she tripped over her own feet-no wait they were Alden's-and passed out as she started to fall to the ground.
Sirius had been trying his hardest to stay away from Hermione the whole evening. This was saying something, it was taking all of his self control from pulling her from that blond guy he had been watching her snog in between drinks all night. In an attempt to lessen the frustration, he had downed quite a few shots, followed by more than his fair share of pints. (A/N - "Beer before liquor, never been sicker!") He had also distracted himself by snagging (and snogging) the first girl who had thrown herself at him that evening. The blonde girl from outside. Marissa? Or was it Clarissa? It didn't really matter to him what her name was.
However the alcohol and the girl had been making it steadily harder to control himself. The only thing restraining him was that he knew the position he would be putting Hermione in if he gave into his urges and snatched her away from the blond. And he didn't mean the physical position- in his arms and up against a wall. He knew that she wouldn't want to hurt Harry, or any of the guys- by putting them in an awkward position.
But this girl- he dubbed her 'Rissa' was not Hermione. Sure, she was tall, blonde and pretty- but pretty in a fake kind of way- and her hair was stick straight- not wavy and shiny like Hermione's. Her kiss was cold and plain to Hermione's warmth and spark. It only threw into harsh comparison what he was missing.
Once again, he opened his eyes and scanned the room, keeping his lips on 'Rissa's', but trying to keep an eye on Hermione. She was still sitting on top of some blonde guy at a table not too far away. He saw the blond guy's hands move down her back as he continued to kiss Hermione, and Sirius closed his eyes, he did not want to see that happening. However, after awhile he couldn't contain his curiosity and opened them again.
What he saw made him pull away from 'Rissa' and push through the crowd towards Hermione. He had just witnessed the blond guy PUSH Hermione to the ground. He heard her scream and saw the blonde continue advancing toward her. Sirius pushed people out of his way faster in his haste to throttle him, his wand was forgotten in favor of his two tightly clenched fists.
He saw her eyes meet his and look away. He was almost there when she kicked out at Alden's legs, making him fall to the ground. It gave Sirius just enough time to push the last few people out of his way. Alden barely had time to raise his hand before Sirius reached him. He grabbed him by the shoulder and spun him around, punching him squarely in the jaw, feeling something crack on impact.
He could feel people staring at him, and realized the whole bar had quieted down to watch. He didn't give a damn. The only person he was concerned with had stood up and stepped toward him. "Are you ok?" He asked her, genuinely concerned, and still contemplating giving the unconscious blond a swift kick to the-
However, Hermione interrupted these thoughts with a response that deeply wounded him. "No I am not fucking ok! I could have taken him on my own! I didn't need any help" She slurred, and suddenly swayed on the spot and fell. Sirius caught her just as she began to fall. She didn't stir in his arms, and he realized she had passed out.
He picked her up, cradling her in his arms,and caught a whiff of her breath- thick with alcohol. Just then, Ron and Harry had reached his side, running down the aisle he had created bypushing dancing people aside on his way to reach Hermione. Harry was hanging on to the sleeve of Ron's shirt, restraining him from lunging at the bleeding guy on the floor. Neither of them knew what exactly had taken place, but that made it all the worse as their imaginations took over. "That bastard!" Ron swore, swinging at the air in front of him. "Fuck, Harry let go"
Harry was having some trouble keeping himself from lashing out as well, but had been alerted to the trouble in the first place by overhearing the bartender call the cops. He had just pulled away from kissing Ginny (extremely confused), when Dean, none the wiser, had whisked her away to continue dancing. Their eyes met for a split second before the other redhead, Shauna, was asking him to get them more drinks.
Harry had been waiting to order another round of drinks for himself and Shauna when he accidentally overheard snatches of the bartender's telephone conversation. "Yeah, real big guy...punched...customer. -real dangerous...fast as you can", Harry had looked around, and abandoned his drinks, and the girl, as soon as he saw Sirius standing with Hermione in his arms. He met Ron on the way and barely had time to grab Ron's sleeve as he reached Sirius and the now unconscious Hermione.
Harry didn't have time to explain, or ask questions, as a distant siren wailed in the distance. It was loud enough to be heard faintly over the music and general noise that had gone back up to a dull roar, which meant the cops had to be pretty close.The room had gone back to their drinking, dancing and dark corners, everyone ignoring the unconscious man on the floor, but giving Sirius a wide berth.
"Hey guys, as much as I'd like to stay here and mess this guy up, we've gotta go- " He jerked his head toward the bartender "He's called the cops." "Oh shit" said Sirius. The dark entrance of the bar had been lit up by flashing red and blue lights. He snapped into action. "Ron go find Ginny and Dean. The cops are here, we've gotta go now. There's a back door- we can go out that way. Harry would you mind causing a bit of a distraction to give us some time?"
Siriuswas once againpushing through the crowd, but he could no longer use his arms to push people on the dance floor out of his way. He instead used his shoulder to push through the throng, but it was slow going as people collided again and again with his arm and shoulderas he attempted to sheild Hermione from the jostling crowd.
Meanwhile, Harry had pulled out his wand and caused a small explosion outside, distracting the cops for the moment. He slipped his wand discreetly back into his pocket as he weaved and dodged his way through the crowd to the door Sirius had pointed out moments before.
Sirius had finally made it through the crowd and to the door, his shoulder heavily bruised, but Hermione unscathed. He turned around and saw the rest making their way towards them, Ginny and Dean looking flustered and confused, all four of them being pursued by cops.
Sirius ran out the door and into the alley behind the building. Gently, he propped Hermione into a sitting position against the wall. She moved and groaned, but did not wake. Sirius pulled out his wand and pointed it toward an old discarded can, muttering an incantation. The can glowed blue for a moment , and Sirius picked it-and Hermione-up in his arms. The rest of the group came bursting out of the door.
"We have to hurry, the cops are just behind us-" Ron exclaimed "-and they saw us run out the back, they're sure to come down around this way!" Sirius held out the can. "Everybody touch this, hurry up, we only have a few seconds." They all crowded together and held onto the can,trying to catch their breathin the dark and dingy alleyway.
Suddenly they all felt a jerk somewhere around their navelas theywere pulled inwards. Seconds later they re-appeared in the kitchen of Grimmauld Place, disoriented. Ginny stumbled and Harry reached out and caught her. "Th-thanks" she murmured. Sirius noticed a small blush creep up her cheeks, but everyone else's attention, including Harry's, was on the inanimate Hermione.
Suddenly they all began asking questions at once "Is Hermione ok?" . "And what the hell was that all about?" "Who was that guy?" "Why did you punch him?" "Is Hermione hurt?" "Why were the cops chasing us?" Sirius raised his voice "Listen!" Everyone stopped talking and looked at him to continue."Hermione is fine, she has just had a little too much to drink. As for what happened, I'll fill you all in, in the morning. Hermione has had a rough night, and she needs to sleep it off. I'm bringing her up to bed."
And with that, Sirius carried Hermione out of the kitchen and up the stairs, leaving the rest to speculate on what had really happened.