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Chapter 29: Thank you for loving me

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Hermione and Sirius instinctively found each other in their usual positions on the couch; Hermione snuggled into Sirius' side while he had an arm wrapped around her shoulders and idly twirled her curls around his fingers. They didn't speak much, just took comfort in each others presence. Sirius could feel Hermione start to drift off to sleep while she rested against him.

"Hermione?" he asked quietly so not to disturb her if she was indeed asleep.

"Yeah?" she asked groggily.

Sirius didn't reply for a moment and Hermione lifted her head off his chest to look in his grey eyes. He smile and got lost in her own chocolate pair. Bringing a hand up to stroke the side of her jaw he hesitated only for a second before answering.

"I love you," he said quietly holding her eyes with his own.

Hermione sat shocked for a moment before leaning in and softly pressing her lips to his, before pulling away slightly.

"I love you too Sirius," she murmured her eyes shining with the happiness she had been craving for a long time.

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Hermione woke the next morning, Sirius' arms wrapped around her as he slept soundly. Tearing her eyes from the content face in front of her she let her eyes wander and realized she was in Sirius bed. Again. This time however he had joined her in his bed, the bed-curtains blocking out the rest of the world. She turned her attention back to the Animagus in front of her taking in every detail of his face.

"SIRIUS!" Hermione heard James yell. "Time to get up you lazy git."

Sirius stirred and mumbled something before falling back to sleep.

"PADFOOT!"

"Mmmm five more minutes Mrs. Potter," he murmured pulling Hermione closer and snuggling into her side.

Hermione stifled her laughter and hoped James hadn't heard that last comment.

"I give up," she heard James through the curtains.

Sirius then started to wake up and was greeted by Hermione's smiling face. Blinking back the early morning confusion Sirius smiled and pulled Hermione even closer.

"Good Morning," she greeted.

"Mmm Morning," he said giving her a kiss. "I could get used to this," he murmured.

Hermione raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?" she asked.

Sirius nodded and buried his head in her curls, breathing in her scent.

"Come on Sirius. Up," James shouted again. "We want to know if you talked with Hermione last night."

Hermione felt Sirius grin into her shoulder. "Would you now?" Sirius called, voice muffled through curls and curtains.

"Come on Pads," came Remus' voice. "You know Prongs has to know everything."

"I'm just very inquisitive," James replied defending himself, which was followed by Remus' scoff. "Besides," he continued. "I want to know if your master plan of romance is still up and running."

Sirius eyes grew wide and Hermione sent him a look. Before James could say anything else Sirius jerked the curtains open.

"James you prat, shut up."

"What?" James said turning around to face his friend. "Oh," he said taking in a fully clothed Hermione. "Uhh hey Hermione, I'm guessing you and old flea bag here talked?"

Hermione smiled and nodded as Sirius settled back down next to her.

"Good," James said happily. "Now up, class is in half and hour," he said leaving them to head down to the common room.

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By the time Hermione and Sirius had reached the Great Hall most of the school knew about their reconciliation. Apparently, according to Remus, James had 'inadvertently' let slip what really happened.

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On the way to Transfiguration Hermione came face to face with Monique for the first time. Sirius squeezed her hand and led her in a wide arc through the crowded corridor. Hermione glanced back at the black haired witch. What she saw made her blood run cold. She stopped dead in her tracks pulling Sirius to a stop also as she stared at a pair of icy blue eyes.

The last time she had seen these was the battle in Hogsmead. Hermione dropped Sirius' hand and walked up to the girl, the Marauders and Lily watching curiously.

The next thing Monique knew she had Hermione's fist coming towards her face before it connected.

Hermione vaguely heard numerous people call out her name as she advanced once again on Ron's murderer. As she swung again in a fit of anger she felt a pair of strong arms wrap around her.

"Hermione," Sirius said desperately, pulling her away, lifting her off the ground. When they reached a certain distance he spun her around in his arms and held her close.

"Hermione, what was that?" he asked concern flooding his eyes.

Hermione didn't answer just stared blankly at his chest, anger still evident in her eyes.

"Has she done something to you before?"

Hermione again didn't answer and stubbornly held her ground. Sirius just sighed and kissed her temple letting the matter drop, if she wanted to tell him she would tell him eventually.

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The last few weeks in May brought out the side of Hermione that Harry and Ron feared the most, luckily for her, and the others, Sirius, James and Peter were used to the on edge nervousness of Remus and Lily when the exams raised their ugly heads.

Sirius was doing his share of studying but didn't seem to get as much alone time with Hermione as he wanted, and tried to grab as much time as he could.

Before lunch a week before the exams Sirius accompanied Hermione back to the Gryffindor tower to grab some of her books. She ran up the stairs assuming he would wait for her in the common room. She got a surprise however when she felt his hands wrap around her waist as she was putting her books in her satchel.

"Mmm finally I've got you all alone." He murmured huskily in her ear.

Hermione smiled and spun around in his arms, "You do realize we have lunch."

"I can think of better things right now than food," he said descending his lips to hers. Hermione moaned and got lost in the kiss all thoughts of food and books vanishing from her mind. Sirius hands roamed across her robes as he felt Hermione run her tongue along his lips, begging for entrance. Granting her her wish Sirius pulled her as close to him as he could.

"Hermione are you up here?" Lily's voice came from behind the door.

"No she bloody well isn't," Sirius replied clearly ticked off.

"Sirius," Hermione admonished.

Sirius rested his forehead against the girl in front of him. "What do I have to do to get you alone for more than five minutes?"

Hermione smiled. "Probably have to kidnap me and lock me away," she teased. "Of course, that would be after the NEWTs."

"Hermione?" Lily called again.

"Coming," she called exiting the room, Sirius and Hermione descended the stairs and Sirius started up the boys pair.

"Where are you going?" Hermione asked.

Sirius blushed. "I'll meet you in class, grab me some food," he called as he entered his dorm. He was in much need of a cold shower.

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Hermione smiled to herself as she fell asleep, her first NEWT was in the morning but that wasn't what was making her smile. She had figured out the best way to get back at Monique, not for her involvement in her mix up with Sirius, but because of Ron. As soon as the exams were over she was going to Dumbledore, it was about time she used her knowledge of the future for good use.