Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of the characters, I just like to play with them

Love, part 1

Hermione stared unblinking at the ceiling in the still darkened room. She was chewing her bottom lip, thinking, pondering, stressing. When she put it all together yesterday she had been so caught up in the moment she forgot to say the words. She let out a soft sigh and screwed up her courage. She was resolved to wake him up and tell him. Her life was about to change completely.

Hermione sleepily patted the spot in bed next to her, her arm stretched farther and farther, her hand patting the whole way. She moved her body toward his side, still patting the bed. She was feeling for Sirius' form next to her but to her disappointment she found he had already gotten up.

Hermione had hoped to cuddle with him this morning and tell him how she felt. She wanted him to know what she had discovered about her own feelings. She wasn't exactly sure how these things were done. She thought she had a workable plan but her efforts had been thwarted. Her stress level was beginning to rise.

The morning sun began to peek through the bedroom window as she stroked her hand over Crookshanks for comfort. She considered marching out of the bedroom, finding Sirius and just telling him, just get the first one out of the way. She shook her head, she still felt a little off balance and lacked the confidence for such a bold move.

She could wait for him to say it to her, he tried not to smother her with his feelings and only said it every so often. She had been appreciative of that up until today, today he could throw open the bedroom door and sing it to her. Of course that was never going to happen, not at this stage in their relationship. He saved his honest confession for moments that meant something to both of them.

She could write it down and give it to him, just hand him a folded piece of parchment and walk away and wait for his reaction. No, too cowardly. She was going to have to say it to him, look him in the eye and tell him what was in her heart. Hermione released a frustrated groan. Why was this so hard?

The morning rays fully illuminated their bedroom. Crookshanks jumped off the bed and pawed at the bedroom door. She was so lost in thought it didn't register that he probably wanted to be let out of doors. When she considered how to tell him, she felt shy. There was no fear of rejection, she knew he returned her feelings. He made his affection for her plain from the beginning. She finally decided that she would most likely know when the moment was right. Her stress wasn't really reduced by this but at least it was something.

Hermione was about to get out of bed when Sirius opened the door and walked in. He smiled a big, warm smile at her, sauntered over to the bed and threw himself down next to her.

"Good morning."

"Good morning, you were up early."

He chose not to respond to her. Instead he rolled her under him so that he was looking down at her, he dipped his head and gave her a tentative kiss.

Hermione was elated, maybe this wouldn't be so hard after all. She responded eagerly, wrapping her arms around his neck, fisting her hands in his hair. Their kiss was languid and unhurried. Sirius took his time, letting her passion build. He was still thinking about what they had started on the couch the day before. She had been responsive to his more intimate touch, he wondered how much more she might be open to. There was only one way to find out. He reached a hand up to caress her breast, massaging it gently over her bedclothes, dragging his thumb across her nipple.

A quiet moan escaped Hermione as she arched into his hand. Sirius' lips left hers in search of pleasure points along her neck. She forgot entirely that she had something to say, her senses were overwhelmed with him. She breathed in his scent, felt his warm breath on her skin. When she felt his hand travel down her belly, following a slow track southward, she bucked her hips to hurry him along. If his hands felt good over her blue jeans she could only imagine how much better they would feel with only her flannel pajamas in the way.

"Hermione?" She seemed to be on a faster track than he had prepared himself for. He wanted to be sure, wanted to give her every opportunity to slow down if that was what she needed. He pulled back to read her expression and was met with a look he knew only too well. There was no doubt in her eyes, only lust and need.

He had intended on warming her up and then leaving her wanting. He planned on wearing down her resolve slowly until she was practically begging him to make love to her. He was surprised but more than happy to make an adjustment in his plan.

Hearing her name on his lips she remembered what she wanted to say to him. They were wrapped in each other's arms, on the verge of making love for the first time. She could think of no better time.

"Sirius, I…"

The doorbell rang.

"Remus and Tonks are here." Sirius kissed the tip of her nose and left the bed.

"Remus and Tonks?" She sat up in the bed.

"Don't you remember? We're having breakfast together. Then you ladiess are spending the afternoon shopping." He paused in the doorway before leaving the room altogether. He closed the door quietly behind him.

"Oh, right." She spoke more to herself.

Then what was this all about? A tease?

"Well, be sensible Hermione. It's not like he thought you would be ready for more." Now she was openly speaking to herself.

Hermione realized there was nothing for it. She got out of bed and prepared to meet her guests.

0o0o0o0o0

Sirius answered the door and welcomed Remus and Tonks inside. He told them Hermione had gotten a late start but would be out in a minute. They retired to the living room and chatted while they waited on her. They were Apparating to the Leakey Cauldron together and then Sirius and Remus had a few errands to run. Hermione and Tonks had made plans to do some shopping in Diagon Alley.

Sirius and Remus had a very close friendship, it made sense that Tonks and Hermione got to know each other better. She and Remus had been dating for months, after the burning at number twelve, Grimmauld Place he had moved in with her. When he would pop the question was a popular piece of gossip in their social circle.

Hermione knew Tonks mostly as another adult in the Order of the Phoenix, a young adult, but an adult just the same. They had met when Hermione was just fifteen and Tonks was working as an Auror. Tonks had entertained Hermione and Ginny with her ability as a Metamorphmagus. They were on equal footing now and wanted to get to know each other on that level.

Hermione emerged, ready for her day and greeted her guests. She apologized for keeping them waiting. She walked over and sat down next to Sirius, placing her head on his shoulder. A look passed between the two men that went unnoticed by Hermione and Tonks. They sat around and talked for about ten minutes before leaving.

Hermione had not Apparated on her own since she had been cursed, she let Sirius take her along with him for safety. They landed in the alley behind the Leakey Cauldron and walked around to the front. They found a table and ordered. They chatted amiably while they waited for their breakfast.

"I can't believe you actually got tickets to see the Wyvern Wonders." Tonks smiled at Hermione and gave her a wink. "How did you manage it?"

"Fame has its perks, cousin." Sirius wore a smug grin, he was quite proud of his score.

Tonks snorted. "Infamous, more like."

"How did you manage it?" Hermione cocked her eyebrow at him.

"I can't tell you all my secrets." He dropped his tone to speak in her ear. His warm breath tickled and made her shiver. He brushed her neck with his lips.

Remus coughed.

Tonks rolled her eyes.

Hermione blushed.

"So, what are you two up to today? You haven't dropped what your errand is about." Tonks made room for the waiter to put her plate of food down.

Remus and Sirius exchanged a look that Hermione caught but Tonks didn't. Tonks looked up expectantly with a smile on her face.

"Erm…" Remus stalled.

"You two aren't ditching us to go drinking are you?" There was a playful tone in Tonks' voice, she was clearly teasing.

"That's it, Nymphadora." Sirius used her given name to frustrate her. "We're off to get pissed."

"Don't call me that!" Tonks was red in the face.

"What? I think it's a lovely name. Just rolls right off the tongue." Sirius continued to goad her, he was just hitting his stride.

"Do you have a dress for tonight?" Remus shifted the conversation to relieve his girlfriend of Sirius' torture. His question was directed at Hermione.

"No, I was hoping we could find something today." Hermione gave Remus a knowing smile, she felt certain she knew what the guys were up to. He looked at her in genuine surprise.

Remus caught her attention and glanced at Sirius. Hermione shook her head but just slightly, so as not to be obvious. She was pleased to have figured out the secret. Sirius wouldn't have said anything but not just because it was Remus' business. He was worried if Hermione knew it would be an unhappy reminder of what happened to her.

"Always the clever witch, Hermione." Remus praised her ability to read the situation.

Sirius was about to tease Tonks again but his attention was diverted to the exchange between Remus and Hermione. He looked between them but all he got were interested smiles. He raised an eyebrow at his friend who shook his head slightly.

"Why is everyone so quiet all of a sudden?" Tonks looked at the three of them like they were up to something. The three of them broke out into conversation about the weather and such. She narrowed her eyes at Sirius which was fine by him, it took the attention away from what they were off to do that day. She was not to be deterred. "So, where are you going? You're so mysterious about it."

"It's some silly thing from their school days. Sirius will only tell me it's a Marauder's secret." Sirius looked at her in surprise. He looked over at Remus who nodded and then shrugged.

"You are the clever witch, aren't you?" Sirius whispered seductively in her ear. He paused like he was considering something before he addressed a question with her. "Are you alright?"

"Sure, why wouldn't I be?" Hermione hadn't associated Tonks' ring with her own.

Sirius rubbed her ring finger on her left hand with a concerned look. Hermione instantly understood his fears and leaned into him and kissed his shoulder.

"I'm fine, I promise."

"Are you two at it again?" Tonks was pleased to see them getting back to normal but couldn't help herself. She owed Sirius a little payback.

"Hopefully." He kept his voice soft and low so that only Hermione could hear him. He had a sense that things were changing between them, he sincerely hoped so anyway.

Hermione felt butterflies fluttering in her belly, she glanced shyly at him and smiled, wishing they had the day to themselves.

Tonks balled up her napkin and threw it at Sirius, a playful scowl planted on her face. Sirius nuzzled Hermione's neck before tearing his attention away.

"I think we're going to have to separate you two. Come on Hermione, let's go shopping." Remus and Sirius stood politely as the women got up to leave.

Sirius reached out a hand to gently grab Hermione's wrist. He tugged her over to him and placed a chaste kiss on her forehead. "Buy whatever you want, sweetheart. I want to show you off tonight."

"Happy hunting! Tonks is going to be thrilled!" Hermione whispered excitedly in his ear.

"Shh!" Sirius laughed lightly and looked over at Tonks who was similarly engaged with Remus.

Hermione and Tonks set off for Diagon Alley, their men watched as they left. Remus turned to Sirius, he paused to consider his phrasing.

"So, the nudge seems to be at least somewhat successful." He recalled their earlier conversation about Sirius' anguish over Hermione's memory loss.

"I really haven't nudged that hard." He was thinking about earlier that morning, there was something different about her.

"I didn't really think you'd have to." Remus partially confessed his belief in her love for Sirius. When he and Sirius started work on the library the full moon had just passed. His senses were still quite heightened, he had made a point to try and read her. She radiated deep affection whenever Sirius was close to her, not to mention attraction. He didn't say anything to Sirius, it was still unclear how things were going to unfold. Sirius would be hurt once again with that knowledge if things didn't work out.

"What do you mean?" Sirius felt there was more to what Remus was saying.

"Shouldn't we head to Hogsmeade?" Remus had no intention of clarifying himself. Things were still far too uncertain. Sirius didn't need false hope.

"Yeah." There was a definite complaint in his tone but he knew better than to push. If Remus was holding back he had a good reason for it.

They left the Leaky Cauldron, walked around to the alley in back and Apparated to Hogsmeade to select Tonks' engagement ring.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Tonks watched with a small smile as Hermione allowed herself to be measured by an overly helpful attendant. It had been Tonks' idea to try this boutique, it was upscale and would have the sort of dress Hermione would need that night. She had tried to argue with Tonks, complaining that the store was overpriced and that she would be better off with a simple dress.

Neither girl had much experience buying dresses, they really needed Ginny for this. Tonks had agreed to help as a favor to Sirius. She feared she would be no better at dress selection than Hermione. Fortunately, her mother had given her the name of the store.

"Hermione…anyone who is anyone in wizard society will be there. Sirius wants you to dress the part." She had been warned that Hermione would balk and that she may not understand the significance of their night out.

"I thought he didn't put any store by that elitist nonsense." Hermione was surprised to hear Tonks speak this way.

"He doesn't and neither should you but they do. Be proud of your heritage Hermione, do yourself proud by playing their game even better than they play it themselves. You are married to the Black Heir and you're a muggleborn. I don't think that's ever happened before. All eyes will be on you, even without Sirius' little corner of fame." Hermione listened to Tonks, her anxiety level going up with every word.

"You make him sound like royalty, Tonks." Hermione took on a scolding tone.

"To society wizards, he practically is." Hermione considered what Tonks said, quietly chewing her bottom lip.

The attendant finished measuring Hermione and suggested she look through their gowns.

Hermione paused and then turned on her heel to face Tonks. "I don't understand…Wyvern Wonders?"

"Oh, the production doesn't matter. It's the venue that matters. The historic Queen Maeve Theater, they only do one production a month to keep it exclusive. They'll have house elves all over the place offering horderves and wine..it'll be fun." Tonks turned her around and pointed her in the direction of the gowns.

"So you've been?"

"No, my mother told me about it." She started flipping through dresses. She pulled out a skimpy red dress with gold sequins and an asymmetrical cut that started mid thigh on one side and ended mid calf on the other. "You have to go in red and gold."

Hermione took one look at the dress and laughed.

"Why?" She took the dress from Tonks and hung it up.

"Well, it will offset all the silver and green." Hermione blanched.

"Only purebloods?" Hermione pulled out a red satin dress with a sweet neckline, the bodice was covered in gold beading. She held it up to her body for Tonks' opinion.

"No, of course not but you'll see the wealthiest in wizard society. You know how lousy Slytherin is with rich families. You'll also meet well placed ministry officials and sundry other famous types." Tonks fiddled with the sash and wrinkled her nose. Hermione hung it back up.

"This is supposed to be fun, right?" Hermione raised a skeptical eyebrow.

"You're going to have a great time." Tonks held up a red chiffon and satin gown with crisscross ruching on the bodice. Hermione took one look at how low the neckline plunged and shook her head.

"The show is supposed to be quite good. I was looking forward to it but I'm not sure now." Hermione pulled out a gold dress and stifled a giggled. The flair of ruffles that began in an open front reminded her of a tentacled sea monster. She shook her head in disbelief and hung it back on the rack.

"The Wyvern Wonders new show is sold out wherever it goes, you're going to be hobnobbing with the rich and famous…why wouldn't you have a wonderful evening?" Hermione had to admit that Tonks made a point, she still felt a bit in over her head.

Hermione pulled out a strapless red dress with a defined, ribbed bodice that was beautifully decorated in gold beading. It opened into an A-line brushed silk skirt with a small, subtle bow on the lower edge of the bodice resting over the left hip. It was the first dress that held any appeal for her. She held it up for Tonks who cooed her approval.

The attendant and Hermione entered a dressing room where the dress was magically altered to fit her perfectly. Hermione walked out and coughed to get Tonks' attention, she looked up and mouthed 'wow.'

Hermione looked like a princess in red and gold, she was radiant. She looked at herself in the mirror and both hands flew to her mouth, her eyes wide. She had to admit that the dress was perfect for her. It accentuated both her bust and waist lines without leaving her feeling exposed. She looked at herself from every angle, it was perfect. The moment was ruined for her when she looked at the price tag.

There was no way she was going to drop that much gold for a dress.

"Oh, no you don't. You're buying that dress!"

"You're only saying that because you haven't seen the price tag." Hermione took another turn in front of the mirror. She looked longingly at the dress, she thought of herself as a rather plain girl but not in this gown. She ran her fingers through her hair wondering what in the world she was going to do with it.

"There's a beauty spa in Hogsmeade." Tonks had been watching Hermione's self examination. Her thoughts were as plain as if she'd spoken them.

"You've been to a beauty spa?" Hermione scoffed.

"No, my mother goes once a month." Tonks stuck her tongue out.

"That's just more money I'll have to spend." Hermione took a step toward the dressing room. "And I don't have shoes to go with this dress."

"You were going to have to buy shoes anyway." Tonks had no intention of letting her off that easy.

Hermione cast a dark look at Tonks.

"Either you buy the dress now or I'll ask the store to hold it for you and Sirius will come pick it up." Tonks could see just how badly Hermione wanted to allow herself to have this little pleasure.

Hermione turned huffily into the dressing room with the attendant. The attendant returned to the front of the store with the dress. She packaged it magically so that when Hermione got it home there would be no wrinkles in it. Tonks was pleased that her little ultimatum had worked.

Hermione dressed and returned to the front and paid for her dress. She simply could not believe she was actually leaving with it. Tonks slid up next to her at the counter with a smug grin.

"Must run in the family." Hermione grumped at Tonks.

"What runs in the family?"

"That look."

Tonks just rolled her eyes at Hermione.

"So…Hogsmeade? Oh, and don't forget, we still have shoes to buy." She and Hermione left the boutique and turned into Diagon Alley. "I'll take you side along with me."

Tonks took Hermione by the hand, they disappeared with a sharp 'crack.'

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Sirius and Remus walked out of the Hogs Head and headed down High Street. Mundungus Fletcher had run across them and insisted they have a pint with him. Sirius had an odd fondness for the old crook while Remus remained dubious but courteous. They spent an hour or so together, reminiscing and catching up. Mundungus regaled them with stories from his recent shady exploits and managed to get Sirius to turn one pint into two. Remus announced he had other business that he had to attend to. He and Sirius bade their friend and former colleague good bye.

Sirius and Remus turned down a street that was in a part of Hogsmeade that they visited very infrequently. There were a few dress shops, a store that specialized in delicate magical knickknacks, a shoe store, a jewelry store and a day spa with a popular café, popular with witches anyway. They were the only two wizards on a street littered with witches. Sirius recognized quite a few ladies he had been rather familiar with. More than one waved in friendly greeting.

"Sirius?"

"Yes, love."

"Never find yourself on this street with Hermione." Remus cast a sly grin at his friend.

"Duly noted."

Sirius and Remus approached the jewelry store, they were about to enter when Sirius heard a female voice call out his name. Remus looked around Sirius and saw who it was.

"Take care, Padfoot."

"You worry too much, Moony."

Remus cast a worried glance at Sirius but said nothing more as he entered the jewelry store. Sirius paused to let the witch catch up to him.

"Sirius! Wow! How long has it been?" The leggy, blond witch caught up to Sirius and flashed him a brilliant smile.

"Hello, Lyra. It's good to see you. How have you been?" Sirius leaned his back against the bricks and lit a cigarette.

"Better now that I've run into you." She stepped a little closer into his space. "I heard a silly rumor that you got married."

"That silly rumor wouldn't have been the wedding announcement in the Prophet, would it?" He called her on the double speak.

Lyra stepped back. "So, it's true?"

"It is."

"Well…you were always a scoundrel, Sirius." She took a step forward. "I don't care that you're married." She cooed her words and stepped in closer.

"Don't embarrass yourself, Lyra." Sirius knew what sort of woman she was but he never would have guessed she would entertain a dalliance with a married man.

His words stung but she was having trouble letting go of his playboy image. This was a wizard with a weakness for witches, he was known for it.

"I know you, Sirius. A lot better than she does, I'll wager. You don't have to play games with me." She traced a finger down his chest.

Sirius released a bored sigh and pushed off from the wall. "See you later, Lyra." He turned into the jewelry store to join Remus leaving a hurt and angry Lyra Edgecombe on the sidewalk.

To be continued….

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A/N:Thanks for the review!

Special thanks to Tassee1

I used the word 'snogged' because JKR used it. I just can't see her using a term that was that vulgar.

Please review!