Amendment I just noticed that a quarter of the story was cut off the bottom...the old one has been deleted and I've replaced it with the new chapter.
A/N: Thanks for all the good feedback for the last chapter! As always, I encourage suggestions, both grammatically, cannon-ly and realistically. I may not be spot on every book detail, but I assure you I'm trying...if you like what you've already read, just go with it! This is more of a fluffy chapter.
This chapter is back to a normal PG rating. This is the original, so unless you want to, you don't need to find any extra bits on my LJ.
Chapter 14 – Back to Reality…and Mrs. Weasley
The ill sound of the muggle alarm clock that Hermione still insisted on using for work filled Sirius's ears for the first time. Like a machine, Hermione leaned over and tapped the "snooze" button to give her an extra ten minutes, while sweet grumblings came from the person next to her, now hiding his head in the pillow.
Hermione listened to him moan through the feathers of the pillows, and finally saw his face emerge from his self asphyxiation.
He reached out to pull her closer and complained still half asleep, "Why do you insist on using that infernal thing?"
She smiled at him, admiring the way his brow furrowed when he was agitated by something he couldn't control, "I'm just used to it. Remember, you don't need magic for everything."
Sirius didn't move, didn't open his eyes, but managed to mumble, "Bull shit."
"I hate leaving you-"
"Then don't." he cut her off.
"Thank you, Sirius." She whispered, trying to be serious.
For this, he opened his eyes and lifted his hand to her cheek as it lay on the pillow next to him. Her eyes were fixed on him and a kind grin sweetened her face. She got up and ready for work, and heard him tinkering around in the kitchen when she was pulling on her coat.
"I'm leaving." She called, walking into the living room and slinging her messenger bag over her shoulder.
He came out of the kitchen looking like heaven with his tussled hair, firm physique, and his pants laying low on his hips that gave her just a glimpse of that dangerous "happy trail". He kissed her a couple of times before sending her off to a good morning, but hoped that she'd reconsider staying with him one more time.
"You know, I'm loaded, love. As long as we're married, you don't have to go to work." He teased, trying another desperate attempt to keep her home with him. He was going to miss their mid-morning romp, followed by their afternoon petting session and finally the early evening quickie they seemed to have perfected the last couple of days. To have her out of his sight after what they'd been through in the last week was going to be trying.
She smiled at his tempting offer and shook her head, "Call me an independent witch."
"I call you a stubborn witch." He teased, tickling her with his whiskers.
She backed away, feigning shock, "Mr. Black, I do believe that's the pot calling the kettle…"
He cut her off with another sweet kiss and then another quick nibble on her neck to try to keep her there. She pulled away, trying to not get wrapped up in him as her stomach was flipping those butterflies again with the new feelings.
She tilted her head to see him seriously and asked, "Do you think what we're doing is wrong?"
Without hesitation, he nodded, "Yes, and that's why I love doing it."
With one more nuzzle, Hermione was out the door and on with her day at the Ministry. Sirius, on the other hand, threw a spell around the flat to tidy it up and was out to do some light shopping as he cruised on his motorcycle.
The Ministry of Magic
Marriage Licenses
Pureblood/Muggleborn Law
Dear Mrs. Hermione Black,
Here in the Marriage License department, your case regarding your marriage to Pureblood wizard Sirius Black has been reviewed by our board. Following the rules of said law, we regret to inform you that as of today, your binding contract has not, yet, been fulfilled.
We've sent representatives out to inspect your dwellings, have interviewed you and have had several witnesses speak on your behalf regarding your marriage. However, it's come to our attention that you have not satisfied us with the sole reason of said law: children. Stating in line 101.36 of your marriage contract, you are expected to have conceived one child by the end of your third month marriage. Failure to do so will result in medical examinations of both you and your husband to conclude whether or not, conception is possible. Failure to produce a strong bloodline will result in the termination of your marriage and you shall be otherwise betrothed to another suitable candidate of pure blood.
Sincerely,
Maria Abeworthy
Marriage Licenses
Pureblood/Muggleborn Law
Hermione's hands began to shake, her fingers could no longer hold the letter and she found herself using her elbows against her desk as her only leverage to stay upright, without fainting. She felt her throat begin to dry and the air in her lungs begin to empty. She felt like the walls were closing in on her and she couldn't breathe.
Her cubicle felt like a prison with its three walls and she was ready to do one, of two things. Remain seated and try to compose herself, or do what Sirius would have done and race up to that Maria bitch and tell her to "fuck off". Neither one seemed to be the easy solution. For now, she'd have to remain quiet and figure out what she and Sirius were going to do, to prolong it.
I can't have a baby, for this.
That was all that went through her mind as she sat in her solitude over her lunch break. The rest of her department had left for their hour, but Hermione had passed and said that she wanted to catch up on her owls from the week's past. Instead, she sat alone, thinking everything over. She thought about how long they had fooled the Ministry so far, how close she and Sirius had gotten and how thankful she was that he was the wizard she had to marry. It could have been anyone, she thought, but she never would have thought in a million years that she and Sirius would be exploring each other's bodies, the way they were just a day ago.
It all started out as a silly young puppy dog crush, literally, and when the idea of marrying him for the sake of this silly marriage law came about, she did all she could to fight it. She was against it from the beginning, after seeing what a childish, irresponsible adult he'd proved to be, only to have come out as one of the gentlest men she'd ever met.
Maybe it was because they were thrown together, maybe it was because they had no other alternative, but whatever the truth of it was, she couldn't wait to see him that night. She kept glancing over at the clock, wondering what he was doing at that very same hour. Wondering if he was napping alone in their bed with those satin-like sheets hugging his bare form…..
"Hermione?"
She shook her head of her daydreaming and looked up to see Kingsley standing there by her cubicle, with stacks of clippings and newspapers to go through.
"Sorry, yes?" she smiled up to the towering black man with bright eyes and open ears.
"Sorry, but I've got these for you. They're what's left of last week's news and thought maybe you might find something with fresh eyes that we're missing." He turned away, after dropping off the papers. "Also, are we coming over for dinner this weekend for your birthday? Arthur tells me Molly's got something planned, whether you like it or not."
Hermione smiled appreciatively, quietly thanking Molly Weasley for remembering her birthday at a time like this. After receiving that letter and the new ground she was hitting with Sirius these last few weeks, her birthday was the least of her priorities. Hermione nodded for Kingsley and started to sift through the shabby articles and clippings that were left to her.
"Oh, and we raided the Malfoy's again." Kingsley added, walking away.
Hermione jerked her head up to hear a little more, "Again? That's the third time this month, Kinsley!" she shook her head and whispered to herself, upon remembering Tonks's tip, "Come on, Tonks."
Friday finally rolled around and Hermione was just coming home from work to find a lounging Sirius, feet on the coffee table and a big smile to welcome her. She leaned over, falling into his lap and kissed him sweetly on the lips.
"Quick, go change, so we can go." Sirius encouraged, tightening his grasp on her. "Or, we can just stay here tonight, and be celibate." He teased with his famous wink.
She bowed her head with a shy grin, "No, Mrs. Weasley, err, Molly, went through a lot to get everyone together tonight, so we're going."
He reluctantly released her and ran a hand through his hair, "Fine. Have it your way. Go."
She stayed where she sat, her arm still draped around his neck and she lowered her head and bit her lip.
"I love it and hate it when you do that. What's wrong?" he asked concerned.
"I've got something to show you."
He couldn't help but grin and raise an eyebrow. With his hand back over her legs, his fingers started to trace under her skirt. "I think I've seen every bit of you, but unless you've got some other kind of surprise?"
She shook her head, stifling a grin and reached over into her bag. She'd held onto the letter from the Ministry of Magic for the entire week, fearful of how to present it to him. She figured tonight, before they went off to see friends, would be an easy way for him not to get too upset. She shifted off of him, allowing him to read the letter without her as a distraction. She watched his face grow more and more somber, but more and more agitated to say the least. His brow narrowed and she thought for a second, that he was going to start shouting with the way his chest started to heave heavier and heavier with every sentence.
She got up off the couch to move away and slowly start to pace around the room. Finally, he scoffed off the letter, paying minimal attention to its ending.
"That dirty bitch." He said, crumbling up the letter and tossing it over the coffee table. He looked over at Hermione and saw that she deeply concerned for the situation.
He got up off the couch and went to her, stilling her from her nervous pacing and raising her chin with his forefinger to meet her eyes. He gave her a calming smile and shook his head, as if telling her there were so many other things to get upset about, and this was a minor one.
"It's going to be fine, love. They're assholes. She's just being a bitch, because she probably took my rejection personal, which I hope. You're going to be all right." He soothed, trying to reach out to her.
Just starting a fresh batch of light tears, she looked up at him, playing it cool and confident, "But, they're going to take me away from you."
He shook his head and with a gentle voice, as if commenting on the weather, he said "No, they fucking won't. I won't let them."
"We have no choice, Sirius. We're going to have to go in for the medical examinations."
He continued to fight every ounce of the Ministry alone, "Then we go through it. I'm not worried. I'm sure I'm fine, you're young and spry, and we'll have no problems. What we've been doing can't be detected." He reminded of the birth control. "Just because we're not conceiving fucking children, doesn't make us unsuitable. They're just going through everything, because they're totally against us. We're a terribly uncommon couple, Hermione. You're a prized piece to those ministry fucks that want to get you off to another wizard, but I'll be damned if I'm going to let them take you from US while I'm still breathing."
Us. The Order.
Granted, he wasn't one to go down without a fight, but he was extremely confident that they were both going to pass whatever it was they were going to throw at them. Monday morning, they decided they would make the appointment with the doctors to get checked out and prove to the Ministry that they just hadn't conceived yet. Sirius assured him that his old lessons from Hogwarts had taught him a few tricks in concealing charms when put upon yourself and had no worries that their "thick heads" would figure it out.
They arrived to The Burrow a little late, with Hermione still a little shaken, but as Sirius entered the room to be welcomed by both Bill and Charlie Weasley, he felt like he was surrounded by the Potters family he remembered as a kid. The warm feeling of acceptance, love and friendship that could never be lost, regardless of passing time.
As they sat down for dinner, Hermione felt a little better as she was surrounded by her extended family. Her real muggle parents were off on holiday in Rome and after some correspondence with Molly Weasley, they were overjoyed with the effort she was making in their absence over her birthday. Harry and Ron sat on both sides of her, caging her in like two bookends, away from Sirius who sat next to Remus.
Molly made a few toasts in Hermione's honor; her demeanor seemed a little stern, but friendly for the most part. She made a delicious dinner, with more then enough for leftovers and had an award winning dessert to finish it off. Molly was quiet through most of the dinner, her eyes over on Sirius's side of the table. She watched him crack jokes with Remus, an adult who otherwise portrayed the maturity that Sirius so lacked. Like a proper den mother, she listened to the various conversations going on around her; Ron and Hermione discussing the success of the joke shop with the Fred and George, Ginny leaning over and leaving a kiss on Harry's cheek, and Tonks nearly knocking over her wine glass with her elbow as she leaned in to hear more of what Sirius was saying.
Arthur Weasley sat at the other end of the table, noticing his wife glaring over at Sirius with eyes like daggers. Catching her eye, he slowly shook his head at Molly, telling her to stay quiet over what she was thinking.
After dinner, a few retired to the cozy living room to begin a few gift exchanges, Charlie and Bill snuck outside to enjoy a cigar that was brought over from Romania and Molly and Tonks remained in the kitchen to start the cleaning spells over the dishes that were piled up by the sink.
About halfway through the dishes, Sirius wandered into the kitchen for another butterbeer from the fridge. When Molly saw him smile at her as he closed the refrigerator door, she was unable to hold her tongue any longer. She quickly peeked into the living room to make sure the "children" were still in there talking and not being able to hear her. Remus walked in from the living room, right into the crossfire.
"Molly, you outdid yourself. The dinner was excellent. Remus, you want one?" Sirius asked, upon seeing Remus joining them.
"What have you got to say for yourself, Sirius Black?" Molly shouted in a stage whisper; the tiny vein in her forehead about ready to burst.
Like a sneaking burglar just getting caught, Sirius froze and slowly turned around, "Sorry, Molly? What have I done to upset you, now?"
Molly threw down her dish towel over the sink and went at Sirius with a stern pointed finger, "You! How dare you take advantage of her! You should be ashamed of yourself!" She huffed, coming at him with heavy steps and a gruesome face that would scare small children.
The mostly sweet, gentile Molly Weasley had it out for Sirius. She had taken the news poorly about someone that was like a second daughter to her. Remus and Tonks, however tried to slowly turn to leave, knowing that this needed to be a private conversation.
"Don't you two dare leave! I want witnesses if she tries to hex me!" he called over, holding up a hand to stop them. Going on the hunch that it was over Hermione, he turned back to Molly and tried to plead his case, "Molly, come on. She's fine."
"She's a child, Sirius! She's eighteen, for goodness sakes."
"Nineteen and I didn't take advantage of her. She's a grown woman, Molly, whether you care to see that or not. They're not kids anymore. They're adults and they're dealing with adult issues. Let go, Molly!"
"Let go? This coming from you? This coming from the man who still sees Harry as James?"
"That's not true!"
"And now, you're making a mistress out of his best friend!"
"Mistress? Molly, we're MARRIED! I'm not…we're not doing anything wrong!"
She laughed sarcastically in his direction and turned her back to go back to her dishes. Shaking her head to convince him otherwise, she mumbled under her breath like a mental person, "It's not right, Sirius. It's just not right."
Sirius slammed his beer back on the counter and threw his hands in the air to give up. There was no reasoning with this woman, there never was. "It's not wrong, Molly. We're both adults and we're happy. Last I checked there was nothing wrong with that."
Remus and Tonks remained still, feeling completely out of place, and watching the argument back and forth between them, like a tennis match.
Molly shook her head again and glanced back over at Sirius, keeping her voice low as she tried to calm herself, "Don't you dare hurt her."
Sirius dropped his head and slowly walked over to Molly, who was just trying to be a mother to Hermione, "I would never hurt her, Molly. I care about her. She's good for me."
"She's too good for you." She quickly snapped back.
Nodding in agreement as he let it sink in, he whispered, "I know."
"When this is all over, I don't want to have to pick up the pieces."
He let her words sink in, knowing that he had more riding on this, then just a girl being sent off to another Death Eater. He had a young girl's heart in his hands. Something he hadn't had the responsibility of, in a very, very long time and the reality of it, hit him like cold water when Molly's words sunk in.
Realizing that he was quiet and zoning out, he was quiet to add, "I don't want there to be pieces."
"And what about, Harry? Does he know? What's this going to do to him?" she asked, trying to preoccupy herself with a spot on a pan that was stubborn to come off, instead of using the pan to hit Sirius over the head.
"We haven't told Harry, yet. We're not telling anyone that hasn't already found out." He whispered. "How'd you find out?"
Molly bit her tongue for a few minutes and remained silent. Sirius glanced over at Remus and Tonks with a sour face, watching the couple shift, looking guilty.
"No, they didn't tell me. Severus told me..." Molly whispered.
"Snape!" Sirius chuckled, throwing his hands in the air, giving up, "Of course, that fucking prick!"
"Don't use that word in my house!" she screeched, suddenly changing back into quieter Molly, "Severus just hinted to me that I should take a little bit more notice to your extracurricular activities with Hermione. He told me what he read in your mind…"
"Stop, I don't want to hear anymore of what that fat nosed buffoon had to say." Sirius interrupted, shaking his head and returning to his butterbeer. He took a big swig, swallowed and paused in a thought. "If it means anything Molly, I do really care about her. She's good for me and I'm keeping her safe."
Molly quietly shook her head, still looking at the soapy bubbles in her kitchen sink, "Just don't break her heart, Sirius."
Sirius nodded for her and himself, "I'll try not to." He pushed himself from the counter and went back into the living room to be with Hermione and his godson. He passed Remus and Tonks who stood there like statues, and growled under his breath, "Thanks a lot, you two."