Thank you, my reviewers. Your reactions are really my best incentive for chapter contains a lot of Molly bashing. My apologies to her fans.

Hermione woke up for the second time at the piercing sound of a voice, coming from a person obviously standing just in front of the pavillion. Molly, Hermione realized, still half-asleep, as she caught the end of a sentence :

"… are perfect together. That break-up was a mistake. But you had to put yourself in the way, hadn't you ? You had to see if you could make her fall in love with you, the same way you did with all these girls you dated at Hogwarts ! I heard about that !"

"Stupid, meddling woman", muttered Hermione. It was so much like her, to form a biased opinion based upon bits of gossips. What did she know about Sirius anyway ? She might be his cousin, but she was almost fifteen years older than him, and they had never seen much of each other. Yet she should have been able to realize that there was much more in Sirius than his reputation at Hogwarts.

There had been a time when Hermione liked Molly quite well, for having given Harry a place in her family when he had nowhere to go. But her view on her had changed when she had noticed how much of a bully the woman could be, and had turned into utter dislike since that famous day at Grimmault place, when Molly had questioned Sirius' abilities and legitimacy as Harry's parent, the one relationship that kept him together. Worst injustice of all, she had even faulted Sirius for not having been able to watch over Harry while in Azkaban, thus rubbing salt on one of Sirius's deepest wounds.

As Hermione looked for her discarded dress, she heard Sirius's deep baritone voice as he answered quietly :

"What we have Hermione and I has nothing to do with what I did in Hogwarts as a teen, Molly."

"Besides", shrieked Molly, obviously not listening, "even if you didn't age beyond the Veil, you're born twenty years before her. And don't you think she deserves better than a man who spent most of his adult life in prison ?"

"Why, you vicious old ghoul !" Hermione exclaimed aloud as she fumbled with the buttons of her dress. She had to come out immediately. At Grimmauld Place, Sirius hadn't said anything in his own defense. And what if Molly's cruel words revived his scruples ?

But then she heard his voice, clear and firm, as he gave Molly this calm answer :

"I don't think you have a say in what Hermione or I can choose to do with our lives, Molly. So would you please mind your own business ?"

Hermione burst open the door of the pavillion at that very moment, a smile of triumph on her lips, but anger flaring in her eyes.

"Yes. You do that ! And put this as well into that thick skull of yours, Molly : I've realized that Ron and I weren't made for each other long before I had any hope that Sirius would ever want my love. And now that he does, I could never, ever be with anyone else. For who could be compared to him ? Aside from the fact that we're perfect for each other, just think a little of all what he did. He chose the side of Light, against the incredible pressure of his dreadful family. Then he withstood his unfair imprisonment and the Dementors' assaults on his mind without losing his sanity, a feat yet unseen, because he's that strong. After twelve years in Azkaban, he could have been embittered, he could have changed side even, but he didn't. He sided once again with those who had betrayed or abandonned him, because his one single preoccupation, including when he was on the run, was Harry's safety. He risked a fate worse than death to watch over Harry the year of the Triwizard Tournament, instead of hiding safely abroad, as he could have. You'd see all that, as I and the others do, if you weren't some kind of mama bear who doesn't think at all, as soon as she believes that one of his cubs' interest is threatened."

"And now let me tell you one final thing", Hermione added in an even fiercer tone. "If you once again reproach Sirius the most unfair thing that ever happened to him, his long imprisonment, as you already did twice, I'm afraid I'll have to tell Harry I don't want to see you ever again."

Molly listened to that angry tirade without a word, mouth gaping open like a fish, as she took in Hermione's messy hair and wrong buttoned dress. Obviously she had thought that Sirius was alone on the terrace after a morning walk. Hermione was glad that her dishevelled appearance was making a point all by itself.

Suddenly, Ron's mother turned on her heels and walked away, muttering something that actually sounded like the word 'sorry'.

Hermione looked at Sirius, her eyes smiling.

"I always wanted to say these things to her. From the day she was so mean to you at Grimmauld place, in her stubborn denial of Harry's need to be informed of what was going on. I was completely mad at her then, and I always regretted I hadn't said anything. Why didn't you, by the way ?"

"Well, maybe I wasn't completely sure that what she said wasn't partly true. Life in that lovely old house of mine could be quite depressing. But above all, I thought that Harry considered her as a mother. I didn't want to upset him. Merlin knows he didn't need that !"

"I'm so glad she didn't make you change your mind about us !"

Sirius smirked. "Molly is one of the latest person who could make me change my mind about anything, And nothing", he added with a suddenlty softened expression, "could make me renounce what we have now. I love you so much. Last night… I never, ever experienced anything alike", he added passionately.

"It's the same for me", whispered Hermione.

"So… will you marry me ?"

"You know I will. Any time. But the sooner, the better", she added with a grin.

They shared an tender kiss. Then, as they walked toward the house, Sirius looked at her with that loopside, mischievous smile she loved so much.

"Well my dear, I hope you hadn't dreamt of a bethrothal anouncement at the end of a fancy dinner. For I think that breakfast will have to do it !"