A/N: This chapter is only rated pg-13, so no need to read both the version on my LJ and this one, as they read the same. Thank you for all the gracious compliments, comments and constructive criticism for this story. All if it is welcomed and appreciated and I'm so glad that I've "turned" a few of you into Hr/Sr shippers…they really are hot together.
Some things are going to twist a little in the chapters ahead, and some things may seem unimportant…but, they're there to move the story along.
Enjoy.
Chapter 16
In the silent bedroom where two warm bodies slept, the early rays of Sunday's sun started to bathe the room in its beautiful color. An unusually clear day for this time of year graced their windows, summoning the slumbering wizard to awaken.
Sirius turned his head towards the peaceful sounds of the soft breathing that lay next to him, sweetly smiling into her pillow; his beauty slept. He managed to open his eyes and drink in his favorite time of day – watching her sleep.
He moved a muscle here and there, to test out the status of his recuperation, and discovered that his little witch had managed to brew up some strong stuff that did not leave him with unforgiving bruises. The knife wounds from the night before were nearly gone, only leaving a light trace of a cut, and his wrist was workable, once again. His joints, however, were another story. He felt sore and worn, like he'd been fighting a full body duel for the last three days and knew that only old fashioned rest was going to cure him of that.
For now, he just watched the sleeping witch at his side dream away into another world. He watched the way her lips would twitch now and then, as if she was whispering something in her sleep. She lay on her back, her hand resting by the side of her face, palm up and her face in his direction. Her eyelids seemed to flutter, feeling the sun beginning to kiss her awake and Sirius glanced over at her clock; he realized he'd mesmerized himself with her sleeping for the last thirty minutes.
Hermione started to shift a little and rolled over onto her side, facing him. She slowly opened her eyes, laying them on his handsome face that watched over her, and offered him a small sleepy grin.
"Good morning, beautiful." He whispered, keeping his head against the pillow, turned in her direction. With his newly heeled hand, he reached up to caress her cheek with a finger.
Remembering where she was, she furrowed her brow and asked, "How are you feeling this morning?"
"So much better." He whispered.
She closed her eyes as his fingers graced her cheek and she sighed, "I'm glad." Looking a little less worried, she asked, "Do we still need to take you to the doctor, today?"
Sirius, not wanting to deal with authority if he could manage, shook his head, "No. I'll be fine."
She snaked her arm over his waist, careful not to rub over his mending wounds and tilted her head up as she attached herself. "Good."
He took a moment to collect his thoughts and said, "I've never had a woman take care of me, like you have, Hermione."
She'd never been given the chance to care for someone that she cared for. Her friends were another thing, but to care for someone that you shared your feelings for, your bed with and given your body to was all new for her. She just knew when she first saw Sirius last night, and the state he was in, something in her flicked on and she knew that it was up to her to make him right.
She was falling in love with him.
"You really are something of a dream, to me." He quickly cut himself off; a bit weary of what might come out of his mouth next, as his speech sounded rather out of the ordinary for him.
She felt her stomach beginning to tie in knots, thinking that he was something of the same to her. Deep down in the throat, she found her voice and finally began to answer him.
"You're my childhood crush, come to life." She whispered, building up her volume.
He smirked, as if finding out a pleasant little secret, watching her lean up on her elbows to talk to him. He didn't believe her, "You never fancied me."
"It was what drove me to help you out." She explained, thinking of the Veil. She met his eyes so that he saw how serious she was, "I watched you fall."
"How, darling? You weren't in the room." He asked quietly.
"The time turner. I used it to go back and see how you fell in." Her head fell, as if replaying a traumatic experience for her, "Harry described it, but it wasn't enough for me. I stood under Harry's Invisibility cloak and watched you fall into that dark oblivion…" She whispered, nearly choking out the words that were hard to form.
The very idea of him not being there, the very thought of her not having known him like she had made her stomach churn.
Sirius reached up to touch her angelic face, listening to her tell him her story of woe and worry and it broke his heart to see how much it affected her. He had no idea how much she noticed him all those years. Sirius knew that people would never forget him, but he had no idea he was capable of his memory staying with someone so deep.
She was about to open her mouth to speak again, but he stopped her by pulling her mouth closer to his, so he could finally kiss his sweet witch good morning. A long awaited kiss for, on this particular morning, her lips felt like velvet. He slipped his tongue past hers with such grace and precision that she welcomed his sweet tease.
"I'm not leaving, again." He whispered, pulling away and pressing his forehead against hers. "As long as I have you on my side, I'll fight."
She let him kiss her again and as they pulled away, she finally felt the courage to ask him, "Sirius?" She hesitated, "What are we?"
Hearing this, Sirius released his hold on her and rested his head back down on his pillow. He looked up at her, pondering her question, thinking about how to answer it honestly, without frightening her away. When he heard her ask, he felt the hair on the back of his neck rise with the challenge of commitment.
She was still so young, but she was centuries old spiritually. Was it fair to her, for him to want to keep her around? She still had an entire world to see and it wasn't right for him to hold her back. But, as he seemed to realize, she was quickly becoming his whole world. She was the one who seemed to find a way to charm him, respect him and tame him. Hermione made it all worth it and he was going to be selfish.
"What do you want it to be?" He offered, raising a cool eyebrow.
She thought she knew, but was he going to see it her way? She had to try.
"Are you mine?" She whispered.
Oh god, yes.
His own stomach was doing summersaults as she sent a thrilling sensation through his body, causing him to shiver. To think that this pretty young thing would be willing to pledge herself to him, was more than he would ever imagine. Sure, he'd had the dreams of having someone in his life like this; he may even have had a dream about her being somewhere in there in the non-committal form. She had opened the flood gates and he fought every piece of him to remain calm and composed as he prepared his answer.
"That depends." He started, pursing his lips in query.
Her heart fell, fearing the rejection. She knew it was just something to pass. Hermione should have known better than to think that someone like him would ever want something further with someone like her. Without thinking it through, she had gone out and embarrassed herself fully, with no door to retreat.
"Can I call you mine?" He whispered, curling her hair between his fingers.
She stilled as her breath escaped her. As her heart fluttered and her stomach untied itself, she snaked her arm around his lean body again and pressed herself firm and tight against him, meeting his lips for a soft rejoice.
Sirius had barely touched her lips, before pulling away to lean back and pick up a small box that sat on his bedside table. Upon hearing a small squeak of protest, he rolled back to her and placed a small box in front of her. Her eyes followed the small four inch by four inch box and furrowed her brow in thought. She looked back up at him, not quite sure what it was, and was almost hesitant to open it.
"That was your birthday present." He answered. "But, I've decided that it was just something you needed to have. So, I didn't get you a birthday present."
She couldn't help but smile at him, thinking about how he explained things to her, almost like he had an excuse for being considerate. But, she knew that this rough exterior with a soft spot was only for her to see. And with the way he wrapped his warm, lean body around hers, she couldn't help but feel that she was perhaps the most valued thing in his life. Next to Harry, of course.
She flopped back on her pillow, her hair spraying around her as she placed the small box on the blanket over her chest to better examine it. He slowly moved in closer to her face, nuzzling around her ear and breathing in her scent. She closed her eyes for only a few seconds as he brushed his unshaven cheek against her neck, causing her to tilt away from him so he could seduce her some more.
"Open it, darling." He whispered into her ear, upon noticing that she was beginning to lose interest in the small box and more interest in the way he was leaving small kisses on her shoulder.
She opened her eyes, grinning a little that he had learned exactly what to do to distract her, and carefully untied the small ribbon. She managed to take the lid off of the box between his teasing nips and took out a sterling silver ring with dark Celtic engraving around the band. As she admired the ring and its intricate detail of small marcasite jewels in it, it dawned on her that this ring looked familiar in some way. She'd seen it somewhere, looked at it and thought to herself how much she really liked this ring…
Then it clicked and after a few seconds of letting her mouth fall open in surprise, she smiled when she realized that this was the very same ring she had taken so much interest in, back at the muggle Camden market that day. She remembered liking it so much, because of its fine detail and craftsmanship, and remembered Sirius leaning over her shoulder as she examined it.
"Sirius, thank you." She managed to say, not quite sure how to show her appreciation that he remembered. "I can't believe you remembered which one of these I liked."
"I went there the other day and the shopkeeper actually remembered which one you liked. I was studying each and every one of them. You should have seen me, it was pathetic."
She bit her lip as she pictured him taking the time to study each and every one of those rings, cursing himself for silly reasons that he couldn't remember. She remembered him saying something that day about buying her an engagement ring, but she wasn't about to ask if the ring meant anything of that nature, aside from it being a gift.
Instead, she just asked sweetly, "Is this your way of saying I'm yours?"
He snorted under his breath, ready for a tease and said, "No, it's just something to go with that wedding band you're forced to wear. Being mine, never even came into the question." He winked, "You're the one that brought that up."
Her faltering smile lifted as he teased and she playfully tapped him on his cheek, after sliding it onto her left hand. His dark eyes were warm and inviting, his smile and chuckle was music to her ears and his morning stubble over his face was making her hungry for him. Without any warning, she quickly rolled over and pounced on him like a hunting cat, wrapping her arms around his neck and leaving short kisses around his mouth, cheeks and neck.
She felt like such a lucky witch to have him in her life, finally.
"Mrs. Black?" The witch nurse asked as she walked into the waiting room of the medical office for wizards and witches at the Ministry. She stood there clicking her pen in and out impatiently, holding onto her clipboard and reviewing Hermione's file as she waited.
"Are you ready to do this?" Sirius whispered, standing up next to her when he heard his wife's name called. The very sound of her being a "Black" chilled him to the bone, thinking of his horrible mother also being called Mrs. Black and Hermione was far from being anyone like that.
With her heart pounding, she clutched Sirius's hand tightly and wished they would let him in with her. She glanced at the nurse witch and then back to Sirius, searching for those calming eyes she needed.
"I'll be right here, waiting." He soothed, pulling her to him and holding a hand against the back of her head, pressing her against his chest.
She felt so fragile in his arms at that moment, like a broken doll with weak limbs. She was about to be unprotected for however long it took for them to make their examinations of her, followed by Sirius. He pulled away from their hug and placed both hands around her jaw to lift her face up to his. He concentrated on her, sending her mental messages that she was going to be fine; they were both going to be fine. This was nothing more than a shitty formality that they were making up and with that thought, he placed a strong kiss on her trembling lips
After about thirty minutes, a distraught Hermione came out holding a tissue to catch the stressful tears that she had started. Upon seeing this, Sirius shook his head and bit his lip from saying something smart about the Ministry. He hated to see his young witch so torn up over this ordeal, but he knew that it was just in her to stress out like this and they had no choice but to pacify the Ministry with these examinations.
Upon hearing his own name called, he gave Hermione a quick kiss and whispered some calm soothing things into her ear. She was grateful for his support, but was resentful that she had to go and sit in the waiting room without him. She watched him glance back at her one more time, before following the red headed witch nurse into the long white hallway where they were going to probe him and test him in strange ways.
After forty-five minutes, more time than what they held Hermione for, Sirius was released from their care. He rounded the corner back into the waiting room, with the nurse behind him, displaying a satisfied grin as she watched him strut in front of her.
Sirius was finishing the buttons on his shirt as he sang out to the inspecting nurse that followed behind him, "Finally. Hey Bridgette, tell the doctor he owes me a dinner, after touching me like that."
Hermione felt so relieved when she heard his barking voice fill the silence of the hospital waiting room. She tossed her magazine back on the table and quickly got up to walk over to him. She was surprised to see him smiling, rather than upset at goodness knows what they would have put him through if it involved any cold steel instruments, like they used on Hermione.
"Everything all right?" Hermione asked, placing a hand against his chest to calm his loud voice that seemed to draw attention.
"I'm fine, love." He smiled, "I think Dr. Lamplow needs to get out more often, though." He added, more to the nurse that giggled as he made his jokes, finding him absolutely charming.
"Mr. Black, a few more things, please." The nurse called over to him, forcing him away from Hermione. "If you could please, just sign here." She smiled for him, leaning over the counter and offering him her pen. "It really was a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Black."
"Sirius, love. Just, Sirius, for you." He corrected, giving her a friendly wink as he took her pen and briefly glanced down her dress. Old habits were hard to break. He signed where her finger was pointing and then offered her pen back, thanking her.
She lowered her eyes and slid him a small piece of paper, from under her palm. He looked down at it and then back up at the nurse, who was flirting her eyes at him.
Sirius slowly leaned over the counter closer to her and whispered, "What's this?"
She lowered her voice to a seductive whisper and said, "My floo address."
He grinned mischievously, not looking back at Hermione to see if she'd heard, and picked up the paper to fold it even smaller. "Thanks love, but not interested. I'm a married wizard and I only want one witch in my life."
With that, he slid the paper back over to her and slid off from leaning over the counter. He turned around and walked back to Hermione, putting an arm around her and started walking out. As she wrapped an arm around his waist, he pressed the front doors open for them and walked out, tightening his grip and feeling extremely pleased with himself.
He was definitely changing.
From the moment they stepped out of that office, Hermione seemed to change. For the rest of the afternoon, she was quiet, consumed by her deep thoughts and a little agitated by every little thing. She said very little to Sirius that afternoon, carrying on into the night, that she excused herself to bed early after declining an invitation to go out with Ginny.
The anticipation of their test results was taking quite an emotional toll on her, that she felt that sleeping and working it away, would make the time pass quicker. Sirius could sense that she just wanted to be alone, so for the most part, he did. He tried to stay out of her way, smile at her when she wasn't looking and overall just try and not be too "Sirius" for a few days. To give her more space, he went out without her in the evening whenever he saw that she was getting ready for bed before nine. He'd just get a small nod or a quick answer and he was gone, out of her sight.
For four nights straight, Sirius was treated almost as if he were a stranger; dealing with her mood swings, her crying and her otherwise unhappy self. She showed him very little affection, as if a switch inside of her had just been flipped off and she barely reacted when he'd hug or kiss her when she was drifting off to sleep. He knew that she was quietly tying herself up in knots, desperately worried that they were going to be discovered that they weren't trying for children and that Sirius's mode of birth control was going to be found out. As many times as he assured her that it was a very intricate spell that the wizard doctors wouldn't have the patience to try and figure it out. Having been compiled of many spells that would otherwise cancel each other out, but that was his way of hiding it. To the doctors, it just looked like he had given Hermione an elixir that would help with the relief of menstrual cramps. A rather clever spell, he was quite proud of himself for conjuring up during his wild days.
Nevertheless, Hermione's sweet affectionate self had been put on hold, masking as a stressed out zombie-like girl, invading their flat. By Thursday night, Sirius decided to try and make more of an effort to calm her – his way.
Hermione had fallen asleep early, and after a quick half dozen pints with Remus and Harry at the pub he returned home to her. He readied himself for bed and carefully slid under the covers next to her, trying not to disturb her. After a few minutes of settling in, he slowly slid closer and closer, spooning her the way he usually did when she was already asleep.
Thinking that his offer might sooth her nerves, and get him laid, he slowly ran a hand down her hip and back up to the inside of her smooth thigh. She turned her head a little, making a small sound and then settled down again, like she didn't notice anything. His hand ran back up between her legs, over her shorts and up to the waistband. Very slowly, he fingers crept under the fabric and found their way down to her nether part, hoping to find her pleasure.
She started to shift in her sleep, now a little bit more aware of what was happening to her and she turned her head to face his, "Sirius, not tonight."
He purred in her ear, licking her earlobe gently, "Come on, love. I'll make you forget all your worries."
She gently moved his hand away and answered a little more sternly, "No, honey."
Sirius was feeling quite randy this evening, and didn't feel like being denied, so he tried again to slide his hand up under her shirt, "It's been four days, love."
Hermione, not sure if she liked drunken Sirius's persistence, moved his hands off of her completely and turned around to tell him, again, "Sirius, I said no! You're drunk and I don't want to be with you when it's like this."
"You need to relax, Hermione." He answered with a grumpy tone, slightly irritated that she was removing his hands from her.
"I'm trying to, but I don't appreciate you trying to touch me when you're all liquored up. I've got enough on my mind and your state isn't helping." She announced, her voice reflecting her frustration.
"Fine!" He huffed, moving further away from her and off the bed. He stood up, grabbed his pillow and stormed out of the bedroom. "Good night."
Hermione sat up and watched him leave with his pillow. Though he was slightly inebriated, she saw that he was angry and didn't want it to be like this between them. She understood that she hadn't be the most caring of partners those last few days, but the ordeal they had just put themselves through was a little bit more important than getting laid. She was grateful to have someone like him, but if he was going to act like this after a few dozen pints, then it wasn't worth the argument.
She heard him settling on the couch in the living room and made up her mind not to follow him out there for a row. She was too wound up over the medical exams, fearful that they were going to come up with something to tear them apart, and her mind wasn't on anything else. She fell back against her pillows, curled up under the covers and moved to the furthest of her side, leaving room should Sirius decide to grow up and come back to bed.
Sadly, for the first time since their marriage was consummated, they slept apart. Hermione was quiet as she prepared for work, glancing at him asleep on the couch when she was about to apparate. He lay there, looking so much like the face she'd seen in his younger pictures that belonged to Harry, now; so handsome, so beautiful with his shoulder length hair and lean body. She loved watching him sleep, but she hated to see him asleep on their couch after a small argument. She set down her bag and went to the bedroom to fetch a blanket, as he failed to take one out with him when he left the bedroom in his tantrum.
Very carefully she laid the blanket over him, trying not to make him stir. She took one more glance at him, thinking to herself when she first met him when she was thirteen; she never thought they would be arguing over their intimacy, down the line. She shook her head of the silly thoughts and laid a note on the coffee table, saying that she'd meet him at Grimmauld Place for an Order meeting that night. She slung her bag over her shoulder and went to work, feeling a bit lost and incomplete. She and Sirius weren't supposed to fight, anymore.