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Chapter 31: Bed Of Roses
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Monday night saw Sirius practically emptying his trunk trying to find the perfect thing to wear for his plans the next day.
"You can borrow something of mine if you want Sirius. Most of the stuff you own is black, you could do with some colour," James offered.
"Right Prongs, what 'cha got?"
"How about this?" he said holding up a shirt.
The others all looked at each other and burst out laughing. "I can't believe it," hooted Sirius. "Prongsie owns a pink shirt."
James frowned and looked at the shirt. "It's not pink."
"Oh," Remus said trying to catch is breath. "What colour is it?"
"It's…uhh…light….ish, red."
The others burst into another round of laughter. Sirius gasped tears running down his face. "Sorry to inform you James they already have a term for lightish red."
Peter was rolling on the floor in mirth while Remus was clutching at his stomach. "Yeah," hooted Remus. "Its called PINK."
James glared at the others, huffed, put his shirt away and slammed his trunk shut. "Glad you find it so amusing, go on Sirius, just wear black, I'm sure it will add to the mood."
Sirius had calmed down a bit now. "I think I'll go with this one," he said holding up a white shirt.
"Nice choice Pads," supplied Remus. "At least you won't look gay." (A/N not that there is anything wrong with gay people I have absolutely nothing against them.)
James ignored the laughter and went in search of Lily, who happened to be the purchaser of the lightish red shirt.
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When Tuesday arrived Hermione sat in the Great Hall talking animatedly with Lily over breakfast when three of the Marauders walked through the large doors.
"Where's Sirius?" James asked seating himself across from Lily.
"Good morning to you too," Lily said mock glaring the messy haired wizard.
"I thought he was with you," Hermione answered James.
The boys shook their heads.
"Nope," Remus said frowning slightly before turning to James with a small smile. "Five galleons says he's planning you-know-what."
James shook his head ignoring the inquisitive looks from the girls. "You're on. I say he's working on his bike."
"What's wrong with his bike?" Hermione asked. "I thought it was in perfect condition"
"Uhh yeah," Remus supplied. "I think you have to look at your definition of 'perfect' versus Sirius'."
Lily frowned and turned her steely gaze to James. "He's not doing anything stupid is he? Or should I not ask?"
"I swear Lil's I have no idea what he is doing to his bike, he just mentioned some 'minor improvements'."
At this Hermione chocked on the piece of toast she had just put in her mouth. Lily clapped her on the back as Remus passed her a goblet of water.
"Thanks," she gasped out as her eyes watered. She would bet anything that she knew what Sirius' 'minor improvements' were.
Before anything else could be said, said wizard came bounding into the room like and over-excited puppy. Grinning madly he sat down next to Hermione and started to eat.
"Gffaong," he said, mouth full of half homogenized food.
"I'm sorry," Hermione said raising an eyebrow. "I don't speak the language coming out of your mouth."
Sirius swallowed and placed a chaste kiss on Hermione's lips. "I said 'good morning'."
"Really?" Remus asked smirking from across the table. "Didn't sound like 'good morning'."
Sirius ignored his werewolf friend and smiled gleefully at the girl next to him.
"Do you have plans today?" he asked.
Hermione opened her mouth to reply but was cut off by Sirius.
"If you do plleeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaasseeeeeeeee cancel."
Hermione rolled her eyes slightly at his puppy dog face but smiled nonetheless and shook her head. "I haven't got anything planned for today. Why?"
Sirius grinned. "That's a surprise."
"Where were you Pads?" James asked from across the table.
"Was with my bike…"
"Ha, I knew it, fork it over Moony"
"…getting it ready for today"
James and Remus looked at each other and shrugged before going back to their breakfast.
Sirius spied a large book open in front of Remus. "Whatcha doing Moony?" he asked before Hermione could ask what was so special about today.
Remus looked up from the book, quill placed on the parchment poised to write, and smiled. "I'm putting together our seventh year photo album Pads, like I do every year."
"Oh, right, can I have a look see?" Sirius asked eagerly causing Hermione to laugh at the amount of energy coursing through his veins that morning.
Remus smiled slightly and shook his head. "You know the rules Sirius, no one sees it till it's finished, besides I haven't got our graduation photos yet."
Sirius huffed and pouted. "Fine," he said returning to his breakfast.
James smirked at his friend. "You're in a funny mood today Padfoot, special occasion?" he asked raising both eyebrows.
Sirius looked up from his food and sent the messy haired boy a dazzling grin that ususallymade girls knees week. "'Course it is."
"Care to elaborate?" James teased knowing full well what Sirius had planned.
"No."
Hermione's curiosity had now peaked and she poked Sirius in the side causing him to flinch.
"Ow!"
"What are we doing?"
No answer as the boy gingerly rubbed his side.
"Sirius, pplllllllleeeeeeeeaaaaaasssssseeeeeeeeee."
"You know that face only works when I use it," Sirius pointed out.
"It's not always one hundred percent effective," Remus pointed out from across the table.
Sirius showed his maturity and poked his tongue out at the werewolf before turning back to Hermione, a look of mischievous revenge flickering in his eyes. He reached out, grabbed her waist and proceeded to torture her with his fingers. Hermione let out a shriek and moved along the bench away from Sirius colliding with Lily who collided with Peter who fell off the end of the bench. As the others began to laugh, with Lily helping Peter up, Hermione gave a desperate shove in Sirius' direction and the Animagus fell off the back of the bench with a thud. As the laughter around them grew Hermione sought her escape and leapt from her position heading around the end of the table where she narrowly avoided a collision with a greasy haired Slytherin. Darting around a muttering Snape Hermione sought refuge between Remus and James as Sirius leapt to his feet to chase her.
"Save me."
James leapt to the challenge and brandished his wand standing in a dueling position.
"En garde you flea bag fiend," he said dramatically.
Sirius grinned and pulled out his own wand. "A duel for the fair maiden, Stick Head."
The pair then began to wave their wands around like they were swords. Sirius lunged and his wand went between James' arm and torso.
"Kind Merlin, alas, I have been slain," James cried falling to the floor choking out a prolonged death scene.
Hermione fought back her laughter and nudged Remus. "Your go fair knight."
Remus grinned and stood but didn't pull out his wand
Sirius held his own up. "Give me all that you've got, beast of the large glowing orb."
Remus smirked and raised and eyebrow.
"………Growl………"
Sirius gasped, dropped his wand and turned to Hermione. "I surrender fair maiden, I'm afraid if I come any closer I'll never see the Shire again," he proclaimed and spun around to return to his seat.
The Great Hall erupted into applause at the impromptu show, Sirius, James and Remus all stood and bowed in true Marauder style.
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Sirius stole Hermione away after breakfast and he lead her to the witch with the hump. Once inside Hermione studied the bike, noticing nothing different and wondering if Sirius was actually going to tell her it could fly.
Suddenly she felt something tap her on the head and a cold feeling travel down her body.
Hermione turned and faced Sirius standing behind her, wand in hand. "Why did you put a Disillusion charm on me?"
"Don't really want anyone to see us now do we?"
Hermione raised an eyebrow. "What exactly did you do to your bike?"
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Hermione held tightly onto Sirius as the bike sped down the track, she vaguely heard Sirius call out if she was ready before the bike started to lift off the ground. She closed her eyes and her arms instinctively tightened around Sirius and she could hear him laughing in glee.
After a few minutes she gingerly cracked an eye open and took in the view. They were travelling across Hogwarts Lake less than a meter from the surface, their reflection glistening as the summer sun shone down on them.
"Oh," Hermione gasped as she took in the sight. Sirius smiled to himself having felt Hermione relax behind him.
Heading for the clearing Sirius began to slowly descend. As she dismounted the bike and took off her helmet Hermione let out a small gasp at the sight in front of her.
On the soft grass Sirius had lain out a picnic, a red and white checker rug was spread out with a cane basket at one end.
"Sirius," Hermione breathed as they walked over to the quaint scene and sat down.
Sirius grinned at the girl seated before him and opened up the basket.
"Now what do we have in here…?" he said putting his hand in the basket grinning from ear to ear. With a flourish he pulled out his hand and revealed a bouquet of red roses.
"For you," he said handing Hermione the flowers.
Hermione smiled. "Thank you," she said taking the gift and smelling the red blossoms.
"You're welcome," said Sirius returning to the basket and pulling out a container full of strawberries followed by one filled with lovely gooey chocolate.
Hermione chuckled to herself wondering where all this sappy behaviour from Sirius had come from. "What's the occasion Sirius? I'm pretty sure I recall that Valentines Day has passed."
"What? Do I need an occasion to pamper my pretty witch?"
Hermione raised an eyebrow then smiled at the black haired teen. "No. I guess you don't."
"Truthfully though," Sirius continued. "I did have all this planned for tomorrow." He paused for a moment. "Do you know what tomorrow is?"
"We have a meeting…other than that no, I'm not sure."
Sirius chuckled. "Yes that meeting…almost ruined my plans, you know, but today will do…no Hermione do you know what the date is tomorrow?"
Hermione thought for a moment. "The 29th…what's so…Oh My God," she exclaimed realising what the date was.
Sirius nodded. "Three hundred and sixty four days ago you fell into my arms."
Hermione sat there shocked. "I've been here for a year," she whispered more to herself than Sirius.
"A year tomorrow."
Suddenly Hermione felt something wet run down the side of her face and she felt Sirius move next to her.
"Hey," he said bundling her up in his arms. "It's ok," He murmured as he rocked her, silent tears streaming down her face
"I'm sorry," she apologized. "I just can't believe it's been a whole year."
"You know," Sirius said pulling back to look her in the eyes. "We aren't all that bad, I mean I managed to win you over didn't I?"
Hermione laughed slightly and wiped away her tears. "Yeah it is hard to believe I fell for a mangy mutt like you."
"Hey!" Came the indigent reply. "I'll show you mangy mutt."
The next thing Hermione knew she had a large black dog knocking her over and smothering her face in doggy kisses.
Hermione laughed and pushed the dog away, Padfoot ran over to the edge of the clearing and came bounding back with a large stick in his mouth.
"Oh you want to play no do you?" Hermione said attempting to pull the stick out of the dogs' mouth. When Padfoot finally relinquished the stick Hermione threw it across the clearing, the large black dog chasing it at breakneck speed before bringing it back and dropping it at Hermione's feet.
Hermione picked up the stick now covered in slimy dog drool. "Eww Padfoot," she looked at the stick then at the dog sitting eagerly waiting for her to throw it again. "Oh well, guess I'll just have to clean it," she said grinning and tossing the stick in the direction of the lake.
The resulting splash was soon followed by the larger splash of Sirius diving in after it. Having swum doggy style, as dogs do, and retrieved the stick the large dog ran back towards Hermione dripping wet. Instead of slowing down however he jumped into Hermione's arms sending them backwards onto the ground.
"Sirius!" Hermione squealed as he began to lick her face, water dripping off his wet coat. "I don't want to drown today."
Suddenly the large tongue had disappeared and Hermione was left looking into pale grey eyes as Sirius grinned down at her.
"Thanks Bugs, now I'm all wet."
"That makes two of us," Sirius murmured leaning in to claim her lips.
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A number of hours, a basket of Strawberries, not to mention a number of silent (yet not unproductive) periods, later Hermione and Sirius sat gazing out over the lake, Sirius behind Hermione, his arms wrapped around her while he rested his chin on her shoulder. Hermione smiled as Sirius voice filled her ears as he gently rocked her from side to side.
"To really love a woman,
To understand her, you gotta know her deep inside
Hear every thought, see every dream
And give her wings when she wants to fly
Then when you find yourself lying helpless in her arms
You know you really...love a woman"
Hermione leaned back into Sirius as he fell silent again.
"Do you think it will always be like this?" Sirius asked.
"Like what?" Hermione returned gazing over the lake, the low sun sending shimmering patterns of light over the surface.
"Like this," Sirius repeated. "Relaxed, carefree nothing to worry about, just us."
"I wish it could be," Hermione replied. "I don't think we'll get that though," she said thinking about the rising war before them.
"Hmm. I wonder how big this war will get."
Hermione didn't reply Sirius will have questions for her tomorrow that she'd have to answer about the war; she wasn't going to let that subject dampen their day.
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As Hermione and Sirius walked the corridors of Hogwarts on the way back to the Gryffindor Tower, Sirius started to lead Hermione in a different direction. Hermione pulled on his hand to slow the animagus down. Sirius stopped and turned to face Hermione, one eyebrow raised in question.
"Where are we going now?" Hermione asked with a smile.
"You didn't think the night was over now did you?" Sirius said, avoiding her question and leaning in to meet her lips.
Hermione moaned and arched into Sirius trying to get as close to him as she could. Sirius deepened the kiss and his hands started to make their way up the inside of her shirt before he pulled away, panting slightly from the witch stealing his breath. He moved in and wrapped himself tighter around the bushy haired girl.
"To really love a woman, let her hold you
Till you know how she needs to be touched
You've gotta breathe her – really taste her
Till you can feel her in your blood
And when you can see your unborn children in her eyes
You know you really love a woman"
"Come on," Sirius said when he'd finished. "Let's get out of the middle of the corridor shall we?" He asked offering her his hand. Hermione smiled at him and let him lead her down the corridors until they reached the portrait of Barnabas the Barmy.
"Wait here," Sirius instructed as he started to pace backwards and forwards, Hermione standing to the side anticipation coursing through her veins. As the door appeared Sirius moved to open it, but changed his mind and positioned himself in front of Hermione.
"If you have any doubts about what's in that room you won't hesitate to tell me will you?"
Hermione answered by reaching up and placing her lips on his. "Just open the door."
Sirius grinned and obeyed, standing aside to let Hermione into the room.
