The next day James and Sirius were lounging in Sirius's apartment tossing a Quaffle back and forth and talking.
"So how was your date with the lovely Laura?" asked James.
"It wasn't a date," said Sirius. "It was just dinner."
"Sounds like a date to me," countered James.
Sirius rolled his eyes. "Dinner was fine." James threw the Quaffle above Sirius's head. He tried to grab for it, but he missed and it crashed into a lamp.
"Sorry," said James.
Sirius waved his hand dismissively. He pulled out his wand and said, "Reparo." The lamp immediately flew together and righted itself on the table. "Hermione stopped by," said Sirius trying to sound nonchalant.
James paused. "During your date?"
"I ran out for some wine and when I came back she was waiting for me."
"What'd she want?" asked James.
Sirius shrugged. "I don't know. She seemed upset. I asked her to stay, but she wouldn't. Did she say anything to you about what might have been bothering her?"
"You invited her to join you on your date?" asked James incredulously.
"It wasn't a date," said Sirius in exasperation. "James, did you hear what I asked you?"
James closed his eyes and shook his head. "Sirius, believe me, I'm only saying this because I'm your friend. You have got to get over Hermione."
"What are you talking about?" returned Sirius disgustedly.
"You know what I'm talking about so don't play dumb," said James sharply. "She and Remus are together. You don't have a chance with her. I'm not sure you ever did."
His last words stung Sirius's pride, but he wasn't going to let James know that.
"It's probably a good thing you and I are heading for Auror Training soon," said James. "I think it would do you some good to get away from her for a while."
"You're being ridiculous," said Sirius rolling his eyes. "I'm not going to do anything."
James turned very serious. "Of course you're not. That's not what I'm worried about. I know you'd never do anything like that to Remus. You're not that kind of a friend."
"Then what are you worried about?" asked Sirius.
"You," said James in exasperation. "I'm worried about you. I don't want you to get hurt and that's what's going to happen if you're not careful."
"I'm not going to get hurt," assured Sirius. "I like being with her, okay. I admit it. She makes me feel... She makes me feel... like things are going to be okay. I haven't felt that way since I left home."
James couldn't respond. Sirius acted so normally most of the time, like nothing ever bothered him, that James often forgot he had left home and been completely disowned by his family only a year ago.
"And it's my life," continued Sirius. "So stop worrying, I can take care of myself. I have for a whole year now."
James knew Sirius couldn't be talked to when he went into stubborn mode. "Let's get out of here," said James with a sigh, standing up. "I'm hungry."
"I can't," said Sirius uncomfortably.
"Why?"
"Hermione's coming over later," mumbled Sirius, not looking into James's eye.
James stared at him, shaking his head.
"It's not what you think," said Sirius.
"Right," returned James, heading for the door.
"Where are you going?" asked Sirius. "You don't have to leave. You could hang out with us tonight."
"I'm not going to sit here and watch you do this to yourself," said James firmly. "I'll see you later."
"Bye," said Sirius sulkily.
James left, leaving Sirius to brood on his own. He was still brooding when Hermione arrived later that evening.
"Hey," she said cheerfully, when she saw him sitting on the couch.
"Hi," he returned glumly.
"What's the matter?" she laughed. "You look like your favorite pet just died."
"Sometimes I just want to kill James, you know," said Sirius.
Hermione laughed again. "What he do?"
Sirius rolled his eyes. "Nothing, never mind. Are you feeling better?"
"Much," said Hermione. "I'm sorry I interrupted things yesterday. It's just that I had just got a letter from Remus telling me he wasn't coming home again and I was bummed. How was your date?" she asked tentatively.
"It wasn't a date," said Sirius. "It was just dinner."
"Okay," she said slowly. "How was dinner?"
Sirius shrugged. "Okay I guess."
"Are you going to see her again?"
Sirius shrugged again.
"I take it you don't want to talk about it," said Hermione.
"Not really," returned Sirius with a smile.
"Okay, then what shall we do?"
"Dinner?" suggested Sirius.
"Sounds good to me."
"Any place in particular?" asked Sirius.
"Surprise me," said Hermione, smiling.
Sirius took her to a nearby muggle restaurant that had good burgers and they had an enjoyable dinner. They ordered a couple rounds of drinks and as the night progressed Hermione got a bit silly. Sirius had stopped at two, but Hermione continued after him for another two rounds.
She wasn't slobbering drunk by the end of dinner, but she did need help getting back to his place. Hermione leaned heavily against Sirius all the way up the stairs to his flat. While he searched for his key, she whipped out her wand and pointed it at the key hole. Sirius grabbed her wand before she could mutter the spell. "Muggles, remember?" he said pointedly.
"What?" said Hermione loudly. "There's no one here. Who would see?"
"Shh," he hushed her. He managed to get the key in the lock and herded her into his apartment.
She untangled herself from him and headed to the kitchen. Sirius watched her amusedly. She returned a few seconds later with the bottle of wine, left over from his dinner with Laura the night before and two mugs.
"Don't you have any fancy glasses?" asked Hermione. "Half the fun of drinking wine is drinking it out of fancy glasses."
"Don't you think you've had enough?" questioned Sirius.
She shook her head. "I'm not drunk, if that's what you're implying. I've never been drunk."
"There's a first time for everything," Sirius muttered under his breath, but he accepted one of the mugs she had poured the wine into.
"Your date must have been a real dud, Sirius," said Hermione. "The bottles more than half full."
"It wasn't a date, oh never mind," said Sirius. He took a sip from his mug and watched Hermione down hers and pour herself a second.
"Should we toast?" he asked jokingly.
"Yes," said Hermione, sounding very excited by the idea. "Let's toast." She raised her mug. "I have the perfect toast," she announced.
Sirius raised his mug, trying desperately not to laugh.
"To Remus and his new job," said Hermione grandly. "It must be quite exciting to keep him from me for this long," she finished bitterly and took another sip of wine.
"You're not being fair," said Sirius. "It's only been two weeks. He'd come and visit if he could."
"What are you, on his side?" she asked.
"No," he returned. "I'm not on anyone's side. I'm just saying..."
"James can't stay away from Lily for even a day," she said unhappily. "Are you telling me that he can't steal even an hour at night to apparate to the Potter's and say hello?"
"He's probably tired," reasoned Sirius. "He must be very busy."
"Yeah, that's what he wrote," said Hermione doubtfully. "But you know what they say, out of sight, out of mind. And in his last letter he didn't say when he would be coming for a visit, so it might be another two weeks for all I know. Could you stay away from someone you loved for a month?"
"If I had too," said Sirius quietly. But it was a lie. He wasn't sure why Remus had stayed away for two weeks. It wasn't like they were muggles and had to drive a car or take a train to get places. They had the floo network and apparition. Travel was practically instantaneous.
"You're lying," slurred Hermione. She had finished the second mug of wine and started on her third. "You're just trying to protect him. Well I'm mad at him and I'm going to tell him so when I see him."
"All right, Hermione. That's enough." He strode over to her and removed the mug and bottle from her hands. He went to the kitchen and poured the tiny bit of wine left in the bottle and mug down the sink, before returning to her.
She had made her way to his couch and was sitting looking miserable. He stood watching her indecisively. When he saw a tear fall down the side of her cheek he moved instinctively and sat next to her. She immediately moved closer to him and put her arms around his waist and her head on his shoulder.
He held her so long that she eventually fell asleep. When he felt her heavy against his chest, breathing evenly, he moved carefully out of her arms and laid her on the couch. Then he decided that she wouldn't be comfortable on his couch all night and carefully lifted her into his arms and brought her to his bedroom.
Sirius laid her on the bed and pulled a spare blanket over her. He watched her for a few minutes and ran his hand over her hair, stroking it longingly. Then remembering himself, he pulled his hand back as if she had burnt him. He quickly left the room and closed the door behind him, wishing desperately that he hadn't thrown the rest of the wine down the sink. He could really use a drink now.
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Hermione awoke the next morning to a searing headache. She groaned and rolled over in bed, before she realized that she wasn't at the Potter's. She hadn't left Sirius's. She stumbled out of bed and went into the living room.
Sirius was already awake. "Morning," he said cheerfully.
She groaned in response, rubbing her temples.
Sirius got up and retrieved a small bottle from one of the nearby cabinets. "Here," he said, offering the bottle to her. "Drink this. It will make your head feel better. It's a hangover cure."
She drank the bottle and immediately felt a little relief. "My throat is so dry," she croaked.
"I'll tell you what," said Sirius sympathetically. "Why don't you go take a shower and I'll make you a little breakfast."
"That sounds so good," she said gratefully.
"There are towels in the bathroom and you can borrow my robe," said Sirius, heading to the kitchen to start cooking.
Hermione went and had a long hot shower. She felt ten times better afterwards, although she also felt embarrassed remembering how emotional she had gotten the night before.
As soon as she got out of the shower she could smell breakfast and was surprised to find she was actually hungry. She quickly threw on Sirius's robe and headed back out.
Breakfast was waiting on the table for her.
"Thank you," said Hermione.
"You're welcome," he returned with a smile.
Hermione cleared her throat uncomfortably. "Listen, I'm really sorry about last night."
"Don't worry about it," said Sirius immediately.
"No really," she insisted. "I was completely plastered. I'm so embarrassed."
He reached across the table and took her hand. "It's okay. I understand."
She smiled and squeezed his hand back. "You're such a good friend."
It was that precise moment when they were holding hands and smiling affectionately at each other with Hermione in Sirius's bathrobe that James apparated into the apartment with a pop.
He took in the scene before him and his lips thinned. "I can't believe you two," he said accusingly.
Their hands pulled apart and they stared at James.
"My parents were worried sick when they realized you hadn't come home last night," said James angrily.
Hermione's hands went to her mouth. "I'm so sorry," she said immediately. "I'll just go get dressed and head over there before I go to work." She got up quickly, leaving her breakfast untouched and hurried out of the room.
James waited until she was out of the room before turning on Sirius. "I didn't think you were capable of this," he accused.
"Oh calm down," Sirius snapped back. "Nothing happened. She got drunk and crashed here."
James continued his disapproving stare.
"If you want to be so damn judgmental then you can just get out," said Sirius angrily. "I'm not going to apologize for being her friend."
"Let me ask you something," returned James just as angrily. "What would Remus say if he knew she had spent the night here, knowing how you feel about her?"
Sirius couldn't answer.
"Exactly," said James. "If you don't care about your own heart, why not watch out for Remus's."
"He's the one who up and left," said Sirius defensively.
"For work," countered James.
Sirius scoffed. "Yeah, and he sends her a letter a week just to tell her he can't come home. If he's so damn in love with her why does he stay away, huh? I wouldn't."
"It's only been two weeks," said James.
Sirius was about to answer James when Hermione emerged from his bedroom. Her clothes were completely wrinkled and her hair was still wet.
"Are you coming, James?" she asked. "I know I'm going to be late for work, but I have to change before I head to Hogwarts," she said.
"Hermione," began James. "I was just thinking that maybe we should go visit Remus. He's been too busy to get away, but I bet he'd be happy to see us even for just an hour."
Hermione shook her head. "I don't want to intrude. He says he's been so busy and he doesn't have a lot of time. I don't think he wants me to come."
"Nonsense," said James dismissively. "Of course he'd want to see us. I bet he just doesn't want us to be put out. Come on, what do you say?"
She didn't need much convincing and her face lit up. "Yeah, that'd be great. When?"
"How about tonight? Sirius, are you free?"
Sirius shot a cool look at his traitorous best friend. "Yeah, I'm free," he said evenly.
"Great," said James enthusiastically.
Hermione was practically jumping with contained glee. "I better get to your parent's house," she said trying to maintain her composure. "I don't know how I'm going to get through the day." With a pop, she disapparated.
James looked solemnly at Sirius, who was staring at him with a controlled expression. "Sorry mate," he said sincerely. "I'm only doing it for your own good. Stop by around six if you want and we'll go." He gave his best friend one more sympathetic look before disapparating.
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Sirius had fully intended not to join them. He didn't care if she went and saw Remus, but that didn't mean he had to watch their happy reunion. Still he found himself arriving at the Potter's at precisely six o'clock.
The first person he saw was Hermione. She looked beautiful. Her hair was all shiny and falling in waves around her face and her eyes were bright. She wore a simple scooped shirt paired with a black skirt and a pair of strappy sandles. She had obviously taken extra care with her appearance tonight. Sirius's throat tightened just looking at her.
"What?" asked Hermione patting her hair self consciously.
"Nothing," said Sirius quickly. He swallowed. "You look nice."
She grinned widely. "Thanks. James is just waiting for us," she said leading the way back into the house. Sirius followed her slowly, wondering why he was there.
James seemed mildly surprised that he was there, but was glad nonetheless. He had felt bad about what he had done all day, but he still believed it was for the best. Sirius had spent the better part of six months pining for Hermione and he knew she liked him back, but her heart belonged to Remus. It was obvious to everyone. James hoped that when Sirius saw their reunion it might set things straight for him.
"Ready?" James asked.
Hermione nodded enthusiastically.
"All right, let's go," said James and with a pop he disapparated. Hermione and Sirius glanced at each other and disapparated as well. They all found themselves in front of Remus's front door and suddenly
Hermione found she was very nervous. She hadn't seen his parents since the night she had run off with Sirius. She wondered how they would react to them all showing up on their doorstep. James, unaware of her trepidation, leaned forward and knocked on the door. Sirius, who could see the sudden tension in her body, very lightly brushed his hand against the side of her arm. She felt his reassuring touch and took a deep relaxing breath.
Mrs. Lupin answered the door and was surprised to see them.
"Hello, Mrs. Lupin," began Hermione.
"Hello, Hermione," she returned politely.
"We've come to see Remus," she continued. "Is he here?"
"No," said Mrs. Lupin in surprise.
"Has he not come home from work yet?" she asked.
"I don't know what you're talking about, Hermione," said Mrs. Lupin. "Robert and I haven't seen Remus since the two of you came for the weekend. He sent us a letter a few weeks ago telling us he wasn't coming home for the summer. He said he found a job and an apartment."
"What?" said Hermione in shock. "He told me he found a job here and he was living at home."
They could all see the sudden worry etched in Mrs. Lupin's face. "I hope you won't think me unkind for saying this, but maybe he doesn't want you to know where he is. After the way you ran off with that boy..." she trailed off and looked directly at Sirius.
Hermione was too upset to respond, but Sirius couldn't let Mrs. Lupin believe the things she was insinuating about Hermione. "She didn't run off with me," he said firmly. "She had to go somewhere and I gave her a ride."
Mrs. Lupin regarded Sirius with suspicion, but didn't comment.
"I'm sorry," Hermione interrupted. "But are you sure that's what he said. I just can't believe he's been lying to me."
Mrs. Lupin pursed her lips together. "I'm quite sure, Hermione. I'm sorry," she said and went to close the door.
"Wait" said Hermione. "Where is he? Do you know?"
"Remus is my son," said Mrs. Lupin. "Even if I don't agree with his choices I am learning to respect them. If he doesn't want you to know where he is I won't break his confidence." With that she shut the door.
Hermione stared at the door for a few seconds before turning to the boys. "He must have had a good reason," she said half heartedly. "It doesn't mean anything."
"Hermione, are you okay?" asked Sirius softly.
"Why would he lie?" she returned, her voice barely a whisper.
"I don't know."
She was thoughtful for several moments before raising her chin a bit and taking a breath. "I guess we better get home, then," she said formerly.
"Hermione," began Sirius, but it was too late, she had already disapparated.
James and Sirius arrived at Godric's Hollow moments later, but she wasn't there. They gave each other a concerned look before apparating to Sirius's apartment. She wasn't there either. Sirius suggested trying Hogwarts next, but James vetoed the idea. "She obviously wants to be alone."
Sirius narrowed his eyes at James. "You just had to be so damn interfering, didn't you?"
James accepted the criticism with ease because he did feel the guilt of it. He was the one who had suggested visiting Remus. He had hoped to force Sirius to face the truth that there was no hope for him and Hermione, but now he didn't know what to think.
Sirius sank onto his couch. "You'll let me know if she doesn't come home tonight?" he questioned.
James nodded and when Sirius didn't say anything else, he realized that he should go. Sirius was obviously not interested in conversing with him. Besides, he needed to see Lily. She would know what to do. Women knew what to do in these kinds of situations, men only bungled things, just like he had.
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A/N: Hope you all enjoyed the chapter. Thank you for all the reviews, I never imagined there would be over six hundred. It's kind of amazing. The reviews do keep me writing fast. It helps to know that I'm writing something that's enjoyable and people want to read, so keep em coming.
