Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of the characters, I just like to play with them
Apology
The next morning Sirius Apparated to Hogsmead, he walked up to the gates where he met Professor McGonagall. Together they walked back to the castle. Professor McGonagall filled Sirius in on what had happened. He was furious with Draco Malfoy but was resolved to hold his temper in check, a very difficult thing for him to do. He waited outside the great hall while Professor McGonagall retrieved Hermione.
Sirius had to chuckle at the look of smug satisfaction on Hermione's face. How very full of surprises she was. That there was more to her than met the eye he knew. He knew that from personal experience having been rescued by her when she was all of thirteen. Beyond that though his experience with her was limited to her time spent at Grimmauld Place. The interaction between Harry, Ron and Hermione had served as mild entertainment for him when he was forced into hiding. She had come across as brave, loyal and innocent of darker human emotion. Now he found himself with a front row seat to a view of her more vindictive side, it surprised and pleased him. He caught her eye and smirked at her, letting her know he knew she was looking forward to this. Hermione averted her eyes and blushed. Sirius chuckled, he caught her hand and gave it a squeeze, letting her know he was not disapproving of her. She snuck a look at him and grinned mischievously, pleased that he 'got' her.
The three of them walked to the stone gargoyle and up the spiral staircase. Hearing raised voices from inside they paused outside Professor Dumbledore's office door.
"I should disown you for offering to marry a muggleborn!" Lucius Malfoy was hissing to keep from shouting.
"I was just baiting her," grumbled a petulant Draco Malfoy.
"I rather think it is the manner of his asking that is of issue today, Lucius." Hermione heard a hint of steel not often found in Professor Dumbledore's tone.
"If you say so," sneered Lucius.
Professor McGonagall tapped on the door and entered.
Professor Dumbledore smiled kindly at Hermione and Sirius. Professor Snape was also in the room. Dumbledore handed the letter to Sirius giving him a moment to read it. Sirius scowled at Draco, Hermione thought she must be hearing things. For a moment she thought she heard Sirius growl.
"Ah, now we can begin," said Dumbledore. "Draco, you have something to say to Miss Granger?"
Draco said something unintelligible under his breath.
"Speak up boy," commanded Sirius, revolted by what he read in Draco's letter.
Draco looked up at Hermione to see her smiling sweetly but the glint in her eye was not lost on him, he seethed inwardly, vowing silently to get her back for this.
"I apologize."
"For what?" Barked Sirius, he wanted to hear specifics.
Lucius narrowed his eyes at Sirius, it was humiliating enough to witness his son apologize to the mudblood. Lucius' mind began to consider his method of retribution, pride was a very great virtue in his eyes . It was suffering a very great wound.
"I apologize for writing you that letter."
Professor Snape stood forward, "I think that covers it. Draco go wait in the common room."
Sirius stepped forward, closing the distance between himself and Draco, blocking his path. "That does not cover it! I want to hear you say you're sorry for taunting her about the dementors and that pathetic innuendo," he demanded.
Draco looked to his Head of House but in the presence of Dumbledore he got no support from Snape. Draco glared at Hermione, he opened his mouth and was about to speak but Sirius cut him off.
"Wipe that look off your face," snarled Sirius.
Draco was genuinely intimidated by Sirius who was bigger, older and known to be magically powerful. Draco could feel the animosity coming off the wizard in waves. Sirius was still in close proximity to Draco and it was too much for him, Draco stepped back. He flicked his eyes at Hermione and cast a glance at Sirius who was still glowering. Swallowing every ounce of pride he ever had Draco made his apology for no other reason than a fear of Sirius.
"I apologize for the dementor comment and for the other bit." Draco glanced at Sirius for his reaction.
The only acknowledgement Sirius gave Draco was to drop the overt aggression, replacing it with arrogant disinterest.
Snape gave Draco a significant look and inclined his head towards the door, silently dismissing him.
"Don't forget Mr. Malfoy, detention for the next month, starting this evening," said Professor McGonagall.
"Wait," said Sirius, putting his arm out to point at Draco. "I don't want you coming within a foot of my fiancé."
Draco nodded and nearly fled Dumbledore's office.
In Hermione's mind this was ten times better than the ferret incident, she had never witness such a humiliation of Draco that didn't require a wand. She could have kissed Sirius. Instead she squeezed his hand and gave him a grateful, satisfied smile. Sirius looked smug, feeling very much the hero in this story.
"Been in love long?" After that display Lucius couldn't resist digging at Sirius a little.
"My family has a history of arranged marriages, as does yours. In fact I believe that is how you acquired my dear cousin." Sirius had hoped he would get an opportunity to antagonize Lucius.
"Never compare her to my wife!"
Hermione jumped but Sirius just laughed at the man, he pulled her tightly to him to calm and steady her. Lucius made it far too easy, it almost wasn't fun. Almost. Sirius cast a playful, appraising look at Hermione, "I agree, Cissy doesn't quite measure up, does she?"
"Gentlemen!" Dumbledore's voice alerted them to where they were. Lucius stormed out of Dumbledore's office followed closely by Professor Snape.
Hermione had to hide her mouth with her hand to cover the pleased grin. "Thank you, Sirius."
Sirius gave her a conspiratorial smile, pleased that they had shared in something. He gave her shoulder a tight squeeze, "Minerva would you mind walking Hermione back to her common room. I don't want that little shit to…"
"Ahem." Dumbledore cleared his throat significantly.
Sirius just grinned, not really all that sorry. "Oh, right. Sorry about that." He was certain he heard Hermione giggle as she left with Minerva.
Dumbledore waited until the room was clear to speak, "We're having trouble getting your marriage license approved. To be more specific, all muggleborn witches are."
"Trouble? On what grounds? I thought you said you could fast track it through. "
"Well, her age has come into question."
"But she is of age," said Sirius.
"Then her status as a student. We were able to counter that one by asking if she could delay her sentence until she graduated."
"I'm guessing they didn't go for that."
"They 'accidently' ruled you unfit because of your prior conviction. I think you'll have to deal with this in person."
Sirius laughed, "My incarceration, that's rich. Yeah, I'll go now. Thanks for the heads up. I'll stop by Grimmauld and pick up a few important documents. I think my unlawful incarceration might come in handy."
"The famous Sirius Black, as it were?"
"Something like that, yeah."
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Rita Skeeter looked up from her desk to see her favorite bad boy lounging in the doorway to her office. Sirius made good copy; sexy, wealthy, with a whiff of danger and bad intentions. Rita flashed him a wide, predatory smile. "Hello, handsome." She raised an eyebrow at him in question. He was always good for an interview but he had never come looking for her before.
Sirius flashed his trademark sexy smirk, like old lovers they were. "I was hoping you could help me Rita. I need to put in a wedding announcement and don't know who to talk to."
His words had the desired effect. Rita waved him into her office, her Quick-Quotes Quill at the ready. "Don't be a tease, Sirius. You haven't any practice."
Sirius chuckled at her allusion to his personal life. "Its true, I'm settling down with a lovely young lady."
Rita was practically drooling, this story was good for the cover. "I see, just how young is she?"
He knew his next words would hook her, he'd have himself an accomplice. "Seventeen."
"Lovely." How she adored this man.
"I'm having a bit of trouble getting the license."
"Really? Why? She's of age."
"Not sure, really. She's a muggleborn so we have to get our license through the Office for the Control of Unmarried Muggleborns. They're being a bit unhelpful."
Even better.
She'd had a great deal of trouble getting any information about this new department. She could kill two birds with one stone. Rita flashed Sirius another wide smile giving him a perfect view of her gold teeth. Rita was no fool. His last statement had given him away. The threat of a story that would cast the new office in a bad light might make them a bit more cooperative. Sirius was a favorite of the paper, a story about him or with him in it always boosted sales. If the general public learned of the heart throb's difficulties with the new office the negative publicity could be staggering, even if he was being taken off the market.
"I see. A little quid pro quo?"
"Something like that, yeah."
"And, if they are suddenly obliging to your cause, what of me and my story."
Sirius grinned at Rita, she didn't miss much. "My bride and I will give you an exclusive."
"Lovely."
Even without Rita tagging along Sirius felt his chances were better than average. After all, he thought, it's a Friday, half the staff took off early. It might work in his favor.
Unfortunately they were ready for him. Rita made them rather nervous however with her pen scribbling furiously away on the parchment which was charmed to float along beside her. She mused out loud and loudly of all the possible juicy, disparaging headlines for her story. Sirius was politely shuffled to one office after another, every ministry worker seemed only too happy to help and yet were singularly unhelpful. He hit one dead after another. When he was sent back to the original office he started with he was at his breaking point. Rita nearly squealed like a little girl when he went to the Office for Magical Law Enforcement and proceeded to file a case against the ministry for his incarceration. Sirius thought surely Rita's pen would pass out from exhaustion any minute. When they saw he was deadly serious someone from the newly formed Office for the Control of Unmarried Muggleborns led him away. He handed in his official intent to marry, the clerk handed it back.
"Is this girl of age? She is a student is she not?"
He pushed it back at the clerk. "She is in her seventh year, so yes, she is of age. See here on this line," he pointed to the form, "it gives her date of birth. She is seventeen and oh, look at that, she turns eighteen in just under a month."
"Very poor observational skills on the part of the staff, not off to a great start are they Sirius?" Rita sounded gleeful.
A thin bead of sweat was forming along the brow of the clerk. "We can't grant a marriage to a student."
"Well, firstly I'd like to see that section in the law and second how exactly do you expect her to complete her education from a cell in Azkaban."
"Staff unfamiliar with the statutes of the laws that govern their office. Lovely." Rita continued to muse allowed. This was getting better by the minute.
"You are aware of the stipulation that the two of you are required to copulate weekly."
At this Rita cackled, her eyes gleaming. It was just too good!
"I like them young," said Sirius with a leer at the clerk and a wink for Rita.
Flustered but determined the clerk continued on. "You were recently recovered from the Veil, were you not? I seem to remember reading about it in the Prophet. I am not sure you could be considered a living being having been dead once. Have you been officially declared as living?"
"Staff not up to date on current ministry rulings." Rita was going to have one hell of a scathing article on the Office for the Control of Unmarried Muggleborns.
Sirius laughed out loud, this was getting ludicrous. He withdrew his papers that proclaimed him a member of the wizarding world once again.
"Can you prove you are not a fugitive from justice, Mr. Black?"
Rita peered over he garish glasses at the clerk, the look on her face was incredulous. "Sirius' pardon was only the biggest news at that time. Of course that was two years ago, do you even the read the paper, better yet do you read at all?"
Sirius withdrew his official pardon and slammed it down on the desk.
Rita cooed phrases like, "righteous indignation" and "brave determination in the face of overwhelming stupidity."
"Yes, and if I don't get that license I'll be taking the ministry on. I'll expose what you did to me, incarceration without a trial and proved innocent to boot. They'll be clamoring for the resignations of half the office Heads by the time I'm through with you people."
The clerk finally relented. Sirius noted that he and Hermione were the first couple entered into the official registry. The ministry hadn't approved any other marriage. For the first time it hit him that they would take her to Azkaban if they could. It also dawned on him that there would be some unhappy ministry officials over this. The clerk handed him his marriage license and the charmed wedding bands.
"Let me see your name tag, dear. Lovely."
Rita and Sirius walked out of the office together. Rita wore a rather smug, satisfied smile. She just adored this man, he made writing such a pleasure. Sirius' expression however was grim, his little experience with the new office did not bode well. As they parted to go in their separate directions Rita couldn't help but solicit a follow up interview. He had fulfilled his part of the bargain, she had a phenomenal story on her hands. Her problem was that he had dangled a carrot and she dearly wanted a bite.
"You be thinking about that exclusive with you and your wife. You have my guarantee it will be the most flattering story I've ever written."
Sirius just flashed her that smile that made women swoon on the spot. He waved to her as he turned in the opposite direction. On his way out he decided to pack a bag and leave with Hermione immediately. Before Apparating to Grimmauld Place he flicked his wand, sending a patronus to Dumbledore asking him to tell Hermione to get ready to go.
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Hermione was telling the story about how her meeting in Dumbledore's office went. She was a little shaken by Lucius Malfoy's attitude. The look on his face could only be described as murderous. She felt an unfamiliar thrill when Sirius had bullied Draco but Lucius Malfoy was another matter. She almost wished he had left the other pureblood alone. She didn't want someone like Lucius Malfoy making her life anymore difficult or uncomfortable than it already was.
"I wish I could have heard Sirius speak to Malfoy like that. Classic that is!" Said Ron, glad of any misfortune delivered to the man responsible for his upcoming life changing event, or his son. "Wipe that look off your face." Ron got a dreamy look on his face.
No one had mentioned a single word to Ron about his future wife, Griselda Woloshin. Ron had only seen her once and that had been from the back. It had been a few years ago and he really hadn't paid that much attention. He was wishing now that he had. He was a teenage boy so privately the thought of sex was titillating, he just hoped Griselda wasn't a hag.
The portrait hole opened up and Professor McGonagall stepped though, she scanned the room for Hermione and motioned her over. They spoke quietly for a moment after which the Head of House left the way she came. Hermione walked back over to her friends, looking nervous. She began to gather her books. "It's time," she said quietly, a tremor in her voice. She looked at her friends for a moment. Harry gave her a soft smile of sympathetic encouragement. Ron refused to meet her eyes. Ginny got up and walked the Head Girl back to her private dormitory.
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Sirius was in his room room throwing clothes hurriedly into a bag, Remus sat in the only chair in the room watching his friend.
"I'm just flabbergasted at how earnest they are at keeping these women from the marriages they profess to want them in."
Sirius sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Yeah, well as nervous as I am about all this I really want to get her to Salzburg, get the rings on our fingers and get it over with. The sooner we've consummated the damn thing the harder it will be for them to annul it and cart her off."
A little grin was threatening Remus' face. He was fighting it as hard as he could. Sirius Black nervous about sex, this had to be a first. "You know its going to be fine. I'm sure it'll be awkward at first but as often as you'll be shagging it will work itself out into something more comfortable."
"This whole thing, it's surreal." Sirius flicked his wand at his bag, closing it, "Well that about covers it, I'm off Remus. I'll see you in a few days."
"You know it could be worse Padfoot, she is a very pretty young woman."
"I guess I never bothered to notice before."
"Well then look at her, really look at her Padfoot. She has become quite attractive. She's not a child anymore."
"I know she's not. I've just never had to consider her as an adult."
Remus walked his friend to the fireplace where Sirius floo'd to Dumbledore's office. Sirius dusted his feet off before entering the Headmasters office. Hermione hadn't arrived yet. Sirius took the opportunity to fill Dumbledore in on his experience at the ministry. "The ministry is fighting tooth and nail to keep these marriages off the books. They gave me quite the runaround. Hermione and I were the first to make it through. In the end I had to threaten to file that case against them."
"I feared as much, well we still have some pull at the ministry. It is time to start calling in some favors."
"They will be getting a spot of bad publicity from dear Rita."
Dumbledore's head shot up, he looked alarmed. "What do you mean, Sirius?"
Just then there was a soft knock at the door. The two men broke off their conversation. It would have to wait for another time.
Dumbledore called Hermione in, she smiled nervously. She greeted the two men and then didn't know what to do or say so she just stood there, fidgeting. Sirius grinned at her. "You had a little too much fun this morning." She had to cover her mouth again, ashamed to show such pleasure in front of Professor Dumbledore. His words had the desired effect. He had put her at ease. She was no longer stressing over the long evening that loomed but instead had visions of Draco dancing in her head.
They were flooing directly to her parent's home before going to the cottage. Hermione gave him the address. She took one look back at her Headmaster before she disappeared in a whirl of green flames. Sirius followed directly after, just as nervous and apprehensive although for very different reasons.
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A/N: You've been so kind to me with your review so, Thank You!
I forgot to answer questions from the reviews last chapter. I apologize. It was an oversight. I spent a glorious two weeks in Austria when I was a child. It made a lasting impression. Hermione has had her eyes on Ron and never really looked at Sirius romantically. Sirius didn't harbor any feelings for her either. They have to start at the beginning. I've covered some early impressions, more to come.
Malfoy bonfire! That was awesome! Made me laugh! I'd like to see that, too!
I promise I am working on Sacrifice. I should have something up soon, maybe within the next two weeks.
You are so very wonderful with your reviews. The that chapter is almost written although I've redone it a dozen times, hopefully I'll get it posted in the next few days. Don't anyone hold your breath though. I can't be held responsible!
Please review!