For the second time that holidays Sirius found that he was woken up at the rude time of the morning (Eight o clock) by having a large weight jump on him, screaming in his ear "WAKE UP WAKE P WAKE UP! IT'S CHRISTMAS! MERRY CHRISTMAS!"
Sirius groaned and murmured something intelligible along the lines of "ummmm, crazy woman, aaaaaa, sleep. Go way!"
But Hermione was persistent and seeing as the jumping was having no effect on Sirius, she changed her tactics and instead curled down next to him and started to blow on his ear.
Sirius smirked, still with his eyes closed, and reached for Hermione and pulled her into his arms.
How ever he did not see what was in her hands and as he moved closer to her she lifted her chosen weapon (A pillow from the next bed) and hit him full force in the face with it.
Having the desired effect Sirius jumped up from shock and looked at Hermione, an evil smirk appeared on his face. Hermione squealed and ran as fast as she could out of the dormitory and down to the common room with Sirius not far behind.
Hermione made to run up the girls stairs as before but yet again he was to quick for her and tackled her onto the sofa.
"Now miss Taylor I expect a full apology from you. That is not the type of example that you should give to people with young and impressionable minds. Pillow fights are only to be held when both people are wake. It is the rules of war." Lectured Sirius, as he sat down on Hermione's waist in case she tried to get away.
"Well it got you up anyway didn't it? Anyway, what was I saying? Oh year, MERRY CHRISTMAS!"
"And happy Christmas to you too. So where's my present?" Sirius asked turning into a four year old boy getting all excited over the thoughts of presents.
Hermione looked pointedly at him and he immediately jumped up allowing her to fetch his present while he went to do the same.
They met next to the fire in the common room a few minutes later each holding a present for the other. Sirius was so eager to open his he forgot to hand over the gift he got for Hermione until she cleared her throat and she smiled sheepishly at her while handing over a small roughly wrapped box.
"Wow. Hermione this is… well this is just amazing! How did you get it?" Sirius had pulled out a beautiful hand made beaters glove with his initials sewn on in gold.
Sirius tried it on and it fit perfectly. "Seriously Hermione, this is wonderful!"
"I wanted you're first gift from me to be special but I couldn't think how but then James told me how you really needed a new glove for quidich so he came with me and chose the one fore you. Thank him." Hermione shrugged and looked down on his present again and started to open it, but before she could tear off all the outer wrapping Sirius had grabbed her and pulled her into a long kiss.
"I think I will enjoy saying thank you to you more." Sirius purred as Hermione giggled and pushed him of her.
"Let me get my present first!" the outer wrapping was all off and Hermione opened the small black box to gasp at what was inside.
It was a beautiful fine silver chain with an even more beautiful owl pendant on it. Every detail was etched onto the pendant with big beautiful amber eyes. "Sirius this is so beautiful! It's just.." But Sirius cut across her
"It's just so perfect for you. It's white gold, so its precious, like you. It's an owl so it's wise and beautiful, like you and its perfect in every way………… I swear that didn't sound so corny in my head!" Sirius grinned sheepishly again.
Hermione lifted the necklace and tried to but it on behind her back but struggled so Sirius reached around and did the clip for her. The chain was the right length so that the owl fitted in jus at her collar bone.
"See" Sirius whispered "Perfect!" The all presents were forgotten as the both leaned in and kissed each other passionately next to the fire. Neither wanting to move until Sirius belly betrayed him and grumbled in hunger. Causing them both to laugh.
"Sorry" He whispered still chuckling but Hermione waved off his apology
"I thing I should take you down to breakfast then. If were going to be interrupted again if we don't!"
"Sounds like a plan." Sirius got to his feet and Helped her up before yelling that the last one down to the hall was his smelly quidich socks, causing Hermione to scream in protest and chase after him.
When the got into the hall there was no one else there so they had th whole hall to themselves.
"See" Sirius complained "All the normal people are still in bed, fast asleep! Why did you have to get me up this early!"
"Oh stop complaining. It's Christmas! Don't you want to enjoy as much of the day as possible!"
"I couldn't have said it better myself Miss Taylor. Merry Christmas." Came and old voice from the entrance of the hall as Dumbledore strode in.
"Thank you professor. Merry Christmas. Would you like to sit with us for breakfast. We wouldn't want you to eat alone."
"Thank you. But I do not think that it would be entirely proper having a professor sitting at a students table. Even on this happy date." Dumbledore chuckled
"But you always used to where I came from and no one found it uncomfortable. Apart from maybe the little first years who were scared of all of their teachers." She argued pointing to a seat on her table and signalling for him to sit in it.
"Well I suppose that jus this once it would be nice to get to know one's students a little better. Wouldn't you say mister Black." Dumbledore asked pointedly to Sirius who had been eating the whole way though the conversation.
"I'm just saying that, she always gets her own way so you might as well just sit down here professor." Sirius shrugged and carried on eating a full English breakfast.
Dumbledore chuckled as he sat down opposite to Hermione and Sirius.
"How has your Christmas been so far professor?" Hermione asked politely while dishing her self some sausages.
"Most delightful. My brother even remembered to send me some socks. And yours Miss Taylor."
"Fabulous. Couldn't have been better so far." Hermione replied beaming.
"And how is Miss Granger doing, may I ask?" Dumbledore's tone was suddenly sad and solemn. Sirius looked up in confusion but didn't say anything as Hermione sighed.
"As well as to be expected. She told me that she was missing all her old friends very dearly. But all is well, I think."
"That is good. She should not waste today's chances of happiness over things that cannot be immediately changed."
"Immediately, Sir?" Hermione asked, hope flaring in her, "Can it be changed!" She looked deep into his eyes. And then he said something that made a new hurricane of thought inside her brain.
"The question is whether the change is wanted." Then Dumbledore stood and walked back to the entrance of the hall to greet Professor McGonagall who had just walked in for breakfast.
Hermione was so wrapped up in her own thoughts that she did not notice the side long calculating looks that Sirius gave her.
After breakfast the couple went back up to the common room and brought down all the presents that people had sent them. As usual all of her gifts from friends were either books or chocolate. Not that she was complaining in the least bit. Sirius also seemed happy about his collection of zonkos and sweets and cards from admirers.
Hermione was busy reading one of her new books on one of the comfortable couches when Sirius came up behind her and grabbed her book away from her kissing her cheek.
"Sirius Black give me my book back this instant!" Hermione exclaimed.
"Well what is the all powerful Hermione Granger going to do to me if I don't?" Sirius queried with an even more questioning face then normal.
"I would have to put a deadly curse on you until you do!" she retorted laughing slightly, but stopped realising her mistake. "Wha…. I mean she would ……. She…."
"Hermione Granger! Well at least you admitted it to me, even if it wasn't intentionally. But why didn't you tell me!" Sirius rampaged
"Surely even you know that!"
"What's that supposed to mean? As well as lying to me you're calling me stupid."
"no! but if you can't figure it out soon I might have to!" Hermione stormed jumping up from her seat and heading to the portrait hole.
"Hermione wait! Just tell me! I thought that we could trust each other with anything. So why shouldn't I even know your true name?" Sirius looked truly hurt that she had not trusted him with this information and so Hermione's emotions softend for him.
"Think about it Sirius, it could change to much. And what about when you meet me in twenty years. How will you react if you know that it is me but you cannot tell me that you know me because I would be thirteen and you would be thirty three! It could change to much and it would also hurt you too much."
"don't you think that I would recognise you as soon as I meet you! I might be stupid but I'm not that stupid. Plus you will be here beside me to make sure I don't do anything stupid. Wont I!"
"Probably. Maybe. Oh I don't know. I dout I will have any choice in the matter."
"but if you did have a choice…. Would you go back…… would you leave us all?"
"It wouldn't be leaving you. I would see you soon. I would only be going back to where I belong."
"Twenty years is not soon!" Sirius was getting frustrated. Hermione smiled sadly at him an placed a hand on his cheek to calm him.
"But that's where I belong and where I should be. It's not a matter of what I want. It's what has to be done. We learned that very early in the war. There are choices that you do not want to make but you have to, to ensure the cause fulfilled."
"But how do you know that you were not ment to be sent here and stay here? And that is you part in 'fulfilling the cause' as you call it." He whispered lifting his hand up to lovingly stroke her hair. And then almost as if he didn't want to he added. "but if you do have to go back. I will wait for you. And I will wait until you have come and gone so you remember this." Hermione smiled and before she could answer Sirius leaned in and kissed her.
The kiss was long and passionate that sent all thoughts out of her mind until he pulled away and the thoughts came swimming back into her mind. "Thank you Sirius but I cannot ask for that. Just that if or when I do go back that you will come back to me and feel the same way." Sirius smiled a sad smile.
"You don't even have to ask that!" and he leaned in for another kiss.