A/N – Sorry it's been so long! I know it annoys me when stories aren't updated so I thank you for your patience. Thank you for your reviews, they make me want to write and improve ) I would love to know what you want to happen in the story, it is by no means finished in my head, and any of your thoughts could help me improve the plot line. Thanks again!
OOOOO – line break, seeing as I can't use normal ones apparently.
Chapter Two
Hermione's Head Girl patrol duties finished at 12 that Halloween night and after a long, weary bout of over-excited students playing with the seasonal selection from Weasley's Wizard Wheezes Hermione made her way up to the Astronomy Tower.
Stifling a yawn she walked over to the window seat and looked to the sky. She had changed her dress robes to a set of plain black but her hair and make-up were still perfect thanks to a quick Statico charm.
Before long Padfoot was bounding up the stairs to the Astronomy Tower, jumping on Hermione and licking her face clean.
She laughed, rolling her eyes, "Thanks Snuffles, just get rid of all my make-up," He barked and pawed her face before returning to human form.
"Eurgh, that stuff tastes horrid!" He gagged for a moment.
"So, Mr Black," She said, recalling the first time she had met him nearly 4 years previously, "Why did you feel the need to see me at midnight on this haunting eve?"
Hermione had never exactly been confident around guys, but her new found beauty had definitely improved her self-confidence. 'Besides,' she thought, 'Sirius is Harry's godfather, it's not like I fancy him…'
Sirius looked like he might be blushing under his cool exterior. It seemed weird to Hermione, when Sirius was in his Padfoot alias they would all run around the grounds of the castle, playing chase and catch, he always seemed so full of life; and yet inside the castle he was cool and collected, 'maybe it comes with being a famous "mass murderer" or maybe Remus just rubbed off on him,' she mentally shrugged.
"What?" Sirius asked, wondering why Hermione had been staring at him. "Do I have fur still or something?"
"Oh," she replied, "you never answered my question," she covered quickly, "I was just waiting for you to reply." Hermione blushed and suddenly found something very interesting on her shoe.
'Just go and hug her,' the jovial, woman pleasing side of Sirius' brain told him, 'she danced with you earlier, she likes you.'
'You're her best friend's godfather! You're an old man, decrepit and weakened and in no fit state to be attractive to such an amazing woman. You're twice her fucking age!"
During this inner battle, Sirius didn't notice Hermione get up from the window seat and walk over to where he was standing.
"Sirius? Can we go for a walk?" Hermione asked, breaking the unnatural silence that had filled the room. He nodded and they made their way quietly through the castle. Padfoot accompanied Hermione to the lake, bouncing along cheerfully. Sitting down on the bank, Sirius returned to his human self and sat next to Hermione, watching the peaceful surface of the lake.
"I need your help with something." he said suddenly, and Hermione sadly assumed that this was why he had asked her to meet him, "There are some tricky potions needed for the Order, and you are quite simply the best Potions student in this school." Sirius finished with a hopeful grin.
Hermione frowned, "As flattering as that may be, you seem to have forgotten who taught me my Potions skills," she said pointedly, "Why are you even considering me to do this when there is a Professor in Hogwarts with much more skill and knowledge than I?"
Sirius sighed, he had expected this response, but as Snape had flatly refused due to his 'ever-increasing workload' and had suggested Hermione, insisting that the 'know-it-all' would be delighted to be doing something valuable for the Order, Black had little choice.
"Hermione," he started, "Snape won't do it; he's already working twice the work he's accustomed to and, to be quite honest, I'd much rather be working with you." Sirius smiled at her, hoping he'd succeeding in winning her over. Hermione returned his smile,
"Of course I will, helping to win the war is an honour. But would you mind asking Snape if I could use the work as extra credit?" Sirius laughed, would she ever realise that the extra percent she got over one hundred wouldn't get her a better grade?
"Yes, I'll ask him for you. I think the Room of Requirement would be best don't you?"
"Yeah, that way nobody can stumble across us… or the potions!" she added quickly.
"I was thinking more along the lines of not going near Snivellus and his band of merry snakes in the stinking dungeons…" Sirius trailed off.
"But of course you were also worried that the potions would be discovered," she prompted him, laughing at his apparent lack of concern, "anyone would think you just wanted me and you to be alone together!"
'If only you knew how much,' Sirius thought, much to his own discomfort.
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A pair of cold, dark eyes watched Miss Granger laughing at whatever that filth had said to her. Realising his breath was fogging the window, he continued to prowl the corridors. At every window he passed he'd watch them however, determined that if that scum laid one finger on her he would be cursed into oblivion.
He would not let Black hurt her as he had hurt so many others over the years, in their school days particularly. This time, he would fight for her.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Hermione giggled, "Thank you!" She blushed as Sirius passed her the iris he had transfigured from a sprig of ivy growing up a nearby tree.
Sirius smiled at her, "We should go, it's late and we have work to do tomorrow… or today actually," he laughed a little, looking at the time on his watch, "I'll meet you at 7:30 outside the Room of Requirement." He held his hand out to her and she stood up gracefully.
Walking slowly up the grounds to the castle, Hermione's skin tingled pleasantly every time their hands brushed against each other. Sirius held open the door for her into the school and walked her up to Gryffindor Tower.
"Thank you for tonight Hermione," Sirius hugged her, "and I'll see you later." He kissed her hard on the mouth, winked and walked away, leaving Hermione's lips still tingling as she gaped in his direction, contemplating what had happened over the course of the evening,
"He can't like me," Hermione murmured to herself.
"Oh, I wouldn't put it past him dear," a voice surprised her. Hermione span around, "Would you like to come in or just stand there gawking at Black's behind?" The Fat Lady laughed at Hermione's shock, "You be careful with that one, he was such a womaniser in his school days. I saw many young witches storm out of the Tower because of him."
"You just don't like him because he slashed your portrait; never mind the fact that he was looking for a mass murderer who was living in your dorms!" Hermione huffed, "Draco Dormiens". The Fat Lady's portrait swung open before she could say anything else and Hermione walked into the midst of a drunken after-party.
"'Mione!" Ginny squealed, running over, Harry being dragged along behind her, "Have a drink! You deserve one after your rounds!" Ginny was stumbling slightly as she handed Hermione a glass of Firewhiskey.
"Where's Sirius?" Harry questioned as Hermione drank the liquor in one, "Tell him to get his arse down here now!"
Hermione sighed, knowing there was no point in arguing with Harry if he'd drunk as much at his breath portrayed, and headed through the crowded room, being complimented by several Sixth and Seventh years about how amazing she'd looked that evening; handing her more drinks as she passed them.
"And Remus! Get him here too!" Ron shouted across the room to Hermione who was kneeling in front of the fireplace.
"Sirius Black's chambers," Hermione spoke clearly into the fire after throwing some of the green powder into it.
Looking into the now green fire, Hermione could see a small lounge area. "Sirius?" She called through the fire. Sirius looked up from the newspaper he was reading and smiled at Hermione's head, "Your godson wishes to see you and Remus in the common room," Hermione hiccupped.
Sirius heard Harry's voice very loudly in the background, "Yeah, Siriiiiuuss, get your arse down hereee!"
Sirius laughed, "I'll ask Moony, but I don't think it would be appropriate for your Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor to attend a student party out of hours!" He laughed again as Harry continued shouting, "Yes I'll be there. See you in five."
A/N – What do you want to happen? Let me know and I may just fulfil your wishes. Review please, what harm will it do?