Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, or Bon Jovi.

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Chapter 45: Queen of New Orleans

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Hermione woke the following Monday morning and snuggled up against the sleeping wizard beside her, it was still the first couple of weeks into the year, mid winter, and Hermione was already looking forward to summer. The other side of her brain however argued that warmer weather meant there was no excuse to snuggle, not that Sirius would ever need an excuse. She smiled to herself and gazed at the sleeping wizard affectionately before turning to the clock to check the time, grinning when she noted their alarm was soon to go off, she settled her gaze back on the Animagus and waited for his reaction.

A few minutes of general staring passed before a loud high pitched beeping filled the room, Hermione grinned as a grimace appeared on Sirius' face as he attempted to block out the sound by screwing up his features. This not working he resided to waking up, though not yet opening his stormy eyes.

"Tomorrow," he started, feeling Hermione's gaze. "I'm picking the alarm."

This made Hermione's grin widen and Sirius opened his eyes to meet the two chocolate pools staring back up at him. "Good morning beautiful," he greeted.

"Good morning Bugs," she replied smiling.

"Ready for Potions?" he asked quietly.

Hermione nodded, Saturday night Professor Dumbledore had announced Snape would not be teaching Potions for a while and that Hermione was standing in as a temporary replacement.

"I guess we should get up then," Sirius stated not sounding at all like he wanted to get up.

"We have a while yet before breakfast."

Sirius frowned and turned to the clock. "Six thirty?" he asked, turning back to the witch in disbelief. "Oh I am so setting the alarm tomorrow, and the day after that, and possibly one or three days after that too, just for good measure."

Hermione grinned, she was a natural morning person and didn't usually need an alarm to wake her up. Sirius on the other hand was definitely not a morning person, either waking up late or having to have an alarm to do the waking for him.

"I thought that you might want to just check in on Tonks before we went to breakfast," she suggested.

Sirius nodded. "Good idea, I'll just grab a quick shower first," he said slowly pulling himself out of bed.

"Oh no you don't," Hermione said getting out of bed herself. "I was awake first, I get first dibs on the shower."

Sirius grinned and bolted for the door, however, to Hermione's advantage the bathroom was on her side of the bed and she beat the Animagus to it, closing it and shutting the dark haired wizard out in his pyjamas.

"Hermiooonneee, please let me in," he pleaded to the wood. "We can share..."

Hermione grinned at herself in the mirror, imagining Sirius waggling his eyebrows. "Sorry, I'd rather not smell like wet dog on my first day of classes," she grinned as she heard Sirius' indigent sound through the door.

"You are so mean."

Hermione heard Sirius begin unsuccessfully to mutter unlocking charms in his attempt to get into the bathroom.

"Come on Hermione," Sirius pleaded, Hermione could just picture the puppy dog eyes he was sending through the door, and smiled to herself knowing it took most of her willpower to ignore the droopy grey eyes of her lover. Having the advantage of not actually being able to see said eyes Hermione stepped under the water without letting Sirius in.

When she emerged from the bathroom a while later and caught Sirius hunched over her robes, he glanced up with a complete look of innocence he had mastered as a Marauder.

Hermione glared suspiciously at the wizard, "What did you do to my robes?" she asked.

"Nothing," Sirius answered, heading for the bathroom giving the curly haired witch a quick kiss on the way through. "There better be enough hot water," he said against her lips.

Hermione grinned and didn't bother pointing out that being in a magical castle they were unlikely to run out of hot water in a hurry.

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Hermione made her way down to the dungeons ready for her first class, Sirius and herself had gone to visit Tonks who still hadn't woken yet, causing a growing concern in the mediwitch. Remus had been told to leave the night before by Madame Pomfrey who did remind him that he did have a job to attend the following morning and that she would let him know if the witch showed any signs of waking.

Hermione paused outside her classroom trying to compose herself before she went in, 'why did it have to be the seventh years first?' she asked herself.

She took a deep breath and opened the door, her long black robes billowing excessively around her as she entered the room and walked briskly up to the front of the class, trying in vain to control her robes as she did so. She could here the students, the students she used to join in class, trying to contain their laughter.

Hermione stood at the front of the class and held her hands at her sides to calm her robes, with a smile she addressed the class. "For those who have Professor Black today for Transfiguration, please inform him that we are teachers now and should be setting an example rather than charming each others clothing."

Harry, seated with Seamus, was attempting to control his mirth as Hermione's robes billowed around her, across from him he noticed Malfoy waving his wand discreetly under his desk before Hermione's robes settled down. He gazed at the Slytherin in confusion but quickly looked away when the blonde met his eyes.

Hermione breathed a sigh of relief as her robes stopped their billowing and she was able to get on with the days lesson.

"Right then, now that that's sorted you can open your texts to page four hundred and seventy two," she instructed moving to the blackboard and listened to the sound of pages turning.

"Granger," Hermione ignored the remark that sounded like it came from the Slytherin side of the room.

"Hey Mudblood."

Hermione didn't turn but did reply this time. "You will address me as Professor Granger, or Hermione if you wish, anymore use of derogatory terms will result in detentions and a loss of house points."

There was a moment of silence before another voice cut into the room. "Hermione," the witch turned to face Seamus who presently had his hand raised. "Why do we need to learn a Freeze Flame Potion when we know the Anti-Flame Charm?"

Hermione smiled at the obvious logic in the question. "That's simple; one, you do not always have a wand on you, and two, carrying a vile of this potion around with you a few centuries ago meant the escape from a very painful death."

"But that has nothing to do with today," argued Nott. "We have no reason to learn this rubbish, Professor Snape would have moved onto the next thing."

"Professor Snape, as you so kindly pointed out, already had this lesson planned for this week Mister Nott," Hermione tried to ignore the grins from the Gryffindor side of the room. "It may not appear to be useful but it is a prime ingredient in floo powder and one of the hardest NEWT potions to brew, you will be assessed at the end of the class, now pair up, you should all know where the ingredients are by now, the instructions are on the board," Hermione waved her wand as she said this and her neat elegant script appeared on the large blackboard at the front of the room.

The Gryffindor side of the room was a flurry of activity as the seventh years set to work, on the other side of the room the only student who appeared to be making an attempt at starting the potion was Malfoy, who, now that Hermione was no longer in the picture, was top in their year.

"Is there a problem?" Hermione asked raising an eyebrow at the green side of the room.

"We don't listen to Mudbloods."

Hermione ignored the urge to roll her eyes, instead she set her eyes on the defiant Slytherins setting them with a hard stare. "You will get to work now," she ordered in a low voice. "You will attempt the potion and submit it at the end of the class, anyone who doesn't will have detention for a week, and if the Gryffindor's thought detention was bad with Professor Snape you haven't been to one of mine yet," the look in her eyes gave no room for argument and even some of the Gryffindors looked on in awe. A few of the Slytherins got the message and began to follow Malfoy's example. There were three however who sat defiantly in their seats, Nott, Crabbe and Goyle, both of whom had appeared to have abandoned Malfoy.

Hermione wandered over and stood in front of the group "Do you have a problem following instructions?" she asked, hands on her hips, brown eyes hard "Or are you just hard of hearing?"

Nott smirked. "Have you been this dirty since you came back or were you just born like that; Mudblood?"

Hermione's face hardened as the rest of the room participated in a synchronised gasp, Harry was on his feet and heading for the group, a look of pure rage in his green eyes. Hermione however raised a hand that clearly said to stay out of it, Harry faltered slightly but stood beside her nonetheless.

"Ten points from Slytherin...each," she said letting them off rather lightly with the loss of house points. "Detention for a week, and you can make your way to the headmasters office," Hermione said quietly but firmly, Nott's words stung but she wasn't going to show it. Crabbe and Goyle slowly got to their feet but Nott remained seated causing Hermione to slowly start to loose her patience "That means now Mister Nott."

No movement.

Hermione's eyes flashed and Nott's chair moved backwards and unseated him, sending the Slytherin face first onto the floor. Hermione pointed to the door. "Now."

The Slytherin spat at her feet and sauntered out of the room. "And fifty more points from Slytherin for the blatant disrespect for your Professor."

Hermione regained her composure and turned to the rest of the class who were staring at her, mouths agape, the only one who seemed to be nonplussed was Malfoy who was preparing his potion. "I believe you have work to do, your time is running short, I suggest you get started."

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Later that night Hermione collapsed exhausted onto the bed she shared with Sirius, presently the Animagus was visiting Tonks but Hermione hoped he returned before she fell asleep. Her wish was granted when the black haired wizard quietly entered the room and slipped into the large bed after changing out of his robes. He lay down next to Hermione and gazed into her chocolate eyes, before bringing up a hand to stroke away a defiant curl from her face.

"I hear you had some problems this morning," he murmured.

"Harry?"

Sirius smiled slightly. "More like the entire Gryffindor class that was present in your lesson, could barely get them to shut up about bloody Potions to begin my class."

Hermione sent Sirius a small smile. "Sorry."

Sirius chuckled slightly. "You don't need to apologize, I enjoyed hearing about Professor Granger, heard you gave Snape a run for his money."

"I wouldn't go that far."

"And what's this I hear about wandless magic?"

Hermione smiled. "Not having a wand for twelve years teaches someone to channel their magic differently."

The ebony haired wizard nodded in agreement, flicking the wrist of his wandless hand causing the lights to go out.

Sirius grinned in the darkness and claimed her lips with his own. "So Professor," he murmured against her mouth. "Any lessons to teach an old dog like me?"

"Mmm I don't think so."

Sirius pulled back to meet her grinning face, one eyebrow raised.

"Well for starters you're not an old dog."

This earned Hermione another kiss, Sirius began to deepen it, pressing the witch further into the pillows until he felt her push against his chest. Their lips parted again and Sirius sent Hermione a hurt look.

"Secondly." She began giving him a peck on the lips. "I don't think a dog like you deserves any 'lessons' after that little trick you pulled this morning."

Sirius pouted, still leaning over her. "But that was funny, you locked me out of the bathroom, I'm a Marauder I cant just let something like that slide."

"You made me look like Snape."

"Yes, well that was the point."

Hermione pushed Sirius off further

"You're not serious are you?"

Hermione gave him an innocent look. "They were laughing at me," now it was her turn to pout.

"Were they now?"

Hermione nodded.

"Let me make it up to you," he murmured, moving in once more.

Before Hermione could respond Sirius claimed her lips pushing her back into the soft billowy pillow, his hands already busy with the buttons down the front of her warm winter pyjamas. All thoughts of the day disappeared as Hermione wrapped her arms around Sirius' neck and pulled him closer, their kiss growing in intensity as clothes were quickly discarded.

Fighting off the winter chill Sirius pulled a sheet over them as he left a trail of kisses over her skin, the path of fire leaving Hermione's skin burning with passion.

"Sirius," Hermione breathed as their limbs became tangled, moulded together, the closeness of their bodies causing them to be almost indistinguishable from each other.

The dark haired wizard grinned in pleasure as he moved to bring his lips to the pair beneath him once again, their lips becoming bruised and swollen as the lovers were caught up in the heat of the moment.

"Love you," he murmured as he entered her.

Hermione was left speechless as the couple moved gracefully in sync with each other, Hermione meeting Sirius with each thrust as he whispered sweet nothings in her ear.

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The following Friday after a hectic week of classes, Hermione and Sirius quietly entered the hospital wing to check on Tonks who had yet to wake from her ordeal. Andromeda was sitting next to her daughter with a man that Hermione didn't recognized but assumed was Tonks' father, Remus sat on the other side of the bed, tired lines drawn around his eyes from the long week.

Sirius led Hermione to Tonks' parents and greeted them before introducing Hermione to Tonk's father.

"Ted this is Hermione Granger, Hermione, Ted Tonks, Tonks' dad."

"Hi," Hermione greeted with a smile. "It's nice to meet you."

"It's nice to finally meet you too my dear, Sirius here seldom writes about much in his letters other than you," the muggle said with a smile.

Hermione turned to the Animagus and noted the slight blush creeping up on his cheeks.

"How's Dora?" he asked changing the subject.

It was Remus who answered the question, looking up at his friend. "No change."

Sirius sighed and looked down at the frail form in the bed before moving over next to the werewolf.

"You should get some rest Moony." He said quietly, placing a hand on his friends shoulder. "It's the full moon next week, you're not doing yourself or Tonks any good exhausting yourself."

Stubbornness formed in the golden eyes. "I want to be here when she wakes up."

"I'll stay with her, I'll come get you if she wakes up."

Remus considered this for a moment before nodding and standing, a slight wobble apparent in his feet as a result of exhaustion.

Hermione smiled and gave the werewolf a hug when he walked past her. "I'll walk back with you to your chambers," she offered.

Remus smiled slightly and nodded and moved to leave the room before a soft voice stopped him.

"Remus?"