Hey, I'm glad people are actually reading this ! Just for clarification, the chapters from now on will show how Hermione and Sirius develop a relationship meaning the first chapter was actually the end, but it's really not. I'm going to continue what happens after the ministry once we're all caught up here. I love the reviews and feedback, enjoy!
To Love a Marauder
"Got all of your stuff, Hermione?" an ecstatic Nymphaora Tonks questioned . The young Gryffindor beside her nodded and made a motion to close her trunk but stopped.
"Wait, one more thing," Hermione said, tossing one final book into her trunk; that being Solving the Unsolvable: The Physics of Magic
"Good gods ,Hermione. You and your books are like mother and children," Tonks joked but with a proud admiration for the studious and intelligent girl.
"That's the last of it," Hermione smiled, now fastening the buckle of her heavy trunk tightly. She took a moment to take a quick glance around her room, making sure she had left everything neat and tidy for when she would return next summer. Her bed was perfectly made, not a wrinkle was in site. Her massive book shelf was alphabetized and categorized; only now many books were missing as they were coming with her to the Headquarters. The white Victorian dresser she cherished was dusted and cleaned, leaving no traces of brown hair that always happen to fall off of Hermione's head. Nodding in satisfaction, Hermione turned her attention back to the vivacious Tonks, whose blue hair matched Hermione's walls.
"Are we leaving now?" Hermione inquired. Tonks nodded her head and pulled out her wand to levitate Hermione's trunk.
"Yup, just as soon as Moody gives us the go ahead, and I would also like to warn you that we are going to be traveling by broom," she said hastily, trying to dismiss the fact that they would be traveling by Hermione's least favorite mode of transportation.
"Broom?! But you know I am a terrible flyer!" Hermione wailed. It was certain that the words she had spoken were completely true and anyone that knew her would agree. She had ridden a broom many times with her best friends Harry and Ron at the Burrow and they both were fully aware that she couldn't fly to save her life. Even during their playful Qudditch games, Hermione was always the last to be chosen onto a team, and they usually didn't exactly count her as a player, she was more like a speaking Bludger.
"I know Hermione, but there really is no other safer way," Tonks sympathized and pat her shoulder in reassurance.
"You'll be fine, don't worry," she added, only making Hermione's nerves worsen.
'I'm going to get us all caught, I know it. I'm probably going to fly into someone's apartment on accident giving them the idea I'm some kind of mobile brothel.'
"Alright, lets bring this stuff downstairs so we can chat with the others until we have to leave," Tonks said happily, waving her wand in a small circular motion. The trunk, now levitating carefully in front of them, began making its way to the staircase of the Granger household. Tonks and Hermione followed behind it, until they reached the bottom of the staircase where it landed softly onto the carpet.
"Got all your stuff Hermione?" the humble Remus Lupin asked her with a grin. Hermione grinned right back at the man who had once been her favorite Defense Against the Dark Arts instructor in her third year. She held the utmost respect for him and was glad she would get to spend some of the summer with him.He was very young for a man that had been a professor, but he had aged in other ways, that proven by his boyish brown hair that was now speckled with grey.
"I think so, but I hope I'm not forgetting anything," Hermione said back to him, attempting to go through the list of things she needed to bring with her in her head.
"Brilliant, then we should be leaving any minute now," Lupin told her while grabbing her trunk. He took one of the four brooms that were leaning against the wall and began attaching her trunk to it with magical ropes. As he did this, Hermione took the opportunity to look for Moody, who was supposed to be awaiting some sort of signal. Hermione noticed the front door was ajar and she stepped toward it. She saw the figure of Mad Eye Moody standing directly outside of it, looking into the night sky.
"Good evening Miss Granger," Moody's gruff voice said to her, his back still to her.
'God dam him and his magical eye. I hope that thing doesn't see through clothes or anything. Good gods that would be a nightmare. Argh that's disgusting.'
"Hello Mr. Moody, still awaiting some sort of signal I see?" Hermione asked him, walking outside into the warm night stepping next to him. Moody turned his body slightly to face the girl that was now beside him.
"Bloody Shacklebolt should have sent the signal a good five minutes ago! I told him our best opportunity to leave unspotted would be when it's darkest out and by the time we receive the go-ahead it's going to be as bright as day," Moody growled, turning his head back toward the sky.
"Don't worry, I'm sure it will be dark enough," Hermione said optimistically, tilting her head upwards to look at the black, velvety sky as well. She watched as the stars twinkled in a glimmering dance as she thought about how her summer had already begun.
'I barely even had time to start my summer, with all of this war business going on. The week after I left Hogwarts Dumbledore sent me a letter saying I'd be leaving with a select group of Aurors to go to an undisclosed location for the rest of the summer. He did at least reassure me that I would be meeting up with the Weasley Family there, and eventually Harry, even though he made it blatantly clear that I shouldn't mention any of this to him. I couldn't even begin to wonder why but I guess it has to do with his safety or something to that affect. And then having to tell my parents I would be gone all summer wasn't the greatest moment in the Granger house. They weren't pleased but they knew it was what I had to do. Thank god they left for vacation yesterday. They wouldn't have to see me leaving because I know if they were here they probably would have changed their mind and kept me home. Damn it, it's so hot I feel like I'm in hell.Oh I must be because I just saw some red flames in the sky...or are those sparks?"
Hermione returned from her thoughts as her eyes witnessed a small shower of sparks in the distance, assuming it was the signal. Moody's sudden shift in body weight confirmed her suspicions as he turned around to walk inside.
"There's the signal, lets get a move on," Moody barked to Lupin and Tonks who were still inside. They came out quickly holding the brooms.
"Here you go 'Mione," Tonks said to Hermione as she handed her the broom with her trunk attached to it. Hermione thanked her and took it out of her hands, mounting it hesitantly.
'Oh Merlin, please help me not die on this journey, I swear I'll never raise my hand again in Potions if I live……okay I won't raise it THAT much.'
'Off we go!" Lupin said gleefully, kicking off the ground and soaring into the air. Moody shortly followed after him, leaving Tonks and Hermione.
"I guess it's now or never," Hermione said woefully to no one in particular as she kicked her foot onto the ground and felt her body start to rise. Tonks was right next to her gaining height and speed as well.
"See it's not so bad!" Tonks exclaimed as she outstretched one of her arms and laughed. Hermione smiled nervously and clung to her broom for dear life as it sped along faster to catch up with Moody and Lupin. Once all four of them were in some type of V formation that Tonks led, they slowed down a bit.
"Alright, we have to stick together and keep on course. No one goes dilly dallying off to themselves. This is an important miss-"Moody lectured until Lupin cut him off.
"Oh sod off. We're just going to Headquarters like we do any other day. We're not going to get gunned down by some Muggles who think we are gigantic birds," Lupin said jokingly. Moody growled in response and muttered something to the effect of "ignorant git."
Hermione couldn't help but letting out a muffled giggle after overhearing Moody's insult. Tonks must have heard Moody as well because she threw Hermione a wink and let out a small chuckle.
After the small scuffle between Lupin and Moody, the journey proved to be quite boring and uneventful. Hermione fought to keep her eyes open as sleepiness plagued her. Tonks had to shake her a couple times to make sure she was awake. The only thing that kept Hermione going was the thought of a warm bed in a cozy home awaiting her. Little did she know that Number 12 Grimmauld place was everything but cozy.
"We're here, Hermione," Lupin called out from over his shoulder. Hermione's eyes shot open as she slowly began to panic. She knew she'd have to make the plung downward and she hated landing more than any other aspect of flying.
"Please don't let me die!" Hermione squealed as her broom stick began it's descent downwards. She closed her eyes when she saw the ground below approaching rapidly.
"You've got to keep your eyes open to land!" Tonks shouted to her. Hermione unwillingly forced her eyes open as the ground was only a few feet below her. Pulling the broom stick up slightly, she extended her legs and landed with a thud.
"Congratulations,you made it down alive," Lupin laughed as he gave Hermione's shoulder a reassuring squeeze. Her breathing slowed once she realized her feet were on solid ground.
'Thank you flying gods! I'll try my hardest to live up to my promise about not raising my hand as much, but I can't help it if no one else in the class has got a clue about anything'
"I love the ground, I really do," Hermione laughed and dismounted her broom. Tonks pulled out her wand once more to levitate Hermione's trunk as the group began walking to a row of shambled town houses. A large empty space was in-between two particularly dingy building and oddly this was where their procession stopped.
"I'm sorry but is this it?" Hermione asked the Aurors with a face of disbelief.
"You bet your broomstick it is. Here, quickly read this and memorize it," Moody said to her and thrust a piece of parchment in front of her. She took it from him and read the small, scrawled handwriting that said "Number 12 Grimmauld Place." She looked at it once more, confident she had it memorized even though she had no clue as to why she had to.
"Now what?" Hermione asked, raising her eyes from the paper. Her question however, vanished as soon as she saw in front of her a decent sized building in the space where the lot had once been empty. She raised an eyebrow as the group made their way up the cracked cement stairs to the door. Moody , who led the group, muttered an incantation and the front door abruptly swung open. He walked in, followed by Remus, who ushered his hand signaling Hermione to enter.
"Thanks Lupin," Hermione mumbled as he held the door open for her. She then stepped through the front door, gaping at what she saw. The building had looked terrible from the outside but it was no comparison to what lay before her. The walls of the home were dark colored and the paint was peeling off of them. The floor was dust covered and the boards were falling apart. The group walked down the narrow hallway quickly, leaving Hermione little time to scrutinize the details of the home. She happened to catch a glimpse of the various paintings on the walls, all of which were now wide awake, yelling and moaning. Moody grabbed the rusted doorknob of a door they had reached that was on their left and swung it open.
"We're all here, safe and sound," Lupin announced as he walked past Moody into the room. Hermione followed right behind, looking to see who he was speaking to. Her grimace instantly turned into a smile when she saw Molly Weasely seated at a long, oak table stirring a cup of tea. Next to her, Arthur Weasely, looking tired and exhausted, was reading a copy of the Daily Prophet. Across from them sat Sirius Black, who was beaming at Hermione and her companions.
"Oh Hermione! You've grown so much!" Molly squealed as she quickly got up from her seat and wrapped Hermione in a bone crushing hug. Hermione laughed at the caring woman when she withdrew.
"You saw me a week ago!" Hermione said to her, grinning from ear to ear. Arthur got up as well and walked over to her, giving her a slightly less rib breaking hug.
"I see you've made it in one piece. I guess you aren't the worst flyer in the world," Arthur said with a small grin. Hermione could have sworn she heard Moody let out a cough that sounded very similar to 'Oh Please' but she ignored it.
"If it isn't the lovely Hermione Granger, looking ravishing as always," the smiling Sirius Black said as he rose from his chair. His toned and muscular figure was clothed with a black robe that was bare at the top, exposing a multitude of tattoos etched onto his skin. His shaggy black hair was more managed now, as it rose above his shoulders to a satisfying length. His usual mustache was gone, and light stubble lay in its place.
"How are you Sirius?" Hermione finally asked him once she had finished studying him. She had surprised herself at the details she sought out in him. He was now in front of her, reaching his arms out for an embrace.
"Absolutely wonderful now that you lot are here!" he said happily in his usual husky voice. Hermione felt his arms enclose her as she hugged him back.
'This is so awkward. Why am I thinking so much about this simple reunion with Sirius? It's just Sirus for goodness sakes, Harry's godfather! Nothing is any different than before. He's the same good natured man I remember…just a bit sharper looking. Oh no did I just say he is good looking? Of course I didn't….but it wouldn't be a lie if I did.'
"Well I know we all want to sit and chat but it's really quite late and Hermione here needs to get herself to bed," Molly said, interrupting the embrace between Hermione and Sirius. Although it was only a few seconds, Hermione felt as if it lasted forever…and that really didn't bother her.
"Oh yes Molly, it is pretty late, and I know you are going to want to spend the day tomorrow catching up with Ron and Ginny," Sirius said, giving Hermione another smile. She felt her breath hitch when she saw his gentle face and she managed to find her voice.
"I am a bit tired, I guess I should go to bed," she said regretfully, reaching down to grab her trunk.
"Don't be silly Miss Granger, I'll take that for you," Sirius laughed and took the trunk from Hermione's hands.
"Just follow Sirius up the stairs and he'll show you to the room you're sharing with Ginny. Night dear!" Molly said to her.Hermione bid her goodnights to everyone and finally turned to follow Sirius up the stairs. Her eyes flashed around at the hundreds of paintings that plastered the walls. Curiosity of course, struck her.
"Sirius what-" she started to say but he hushed her.
"We've got to be quiet, or the paintings will wake the whole house up," he whispered to her putting his finger to his lips. Hermione nodded in understanding and continued to follow him up the stairs and then down the hallway to the second door on his left. He creaked the door open and she followed him inside. Setting her trunk down beside the first bed, he turned to Hermione.
"I hope you have a decent sleep, I know its going to be hard for you to get use to being in the ratty old house," he said to her in a hushed voice, due to the fact that Ginny was asleep in the other bed.
"I'm sure it will be quite alright. Goodnight Sirius," Hermione said, giving him a small smile. He returned the gesture and walked over to the door, exiting swiftly. Suddenly a question popped into Hermione's head.
"Wait, Sirius!" Hermione called out in a quiet whisper. The door creaked back open and his head popped back in.
"Something wrong 'Mione?" Sirius asked her with a trace of concern on his face. She shook her head.
"No, I'm fine...but I was just wondering, whose house is this?" she questioned. A handsome grin crept onto Sirius' face as he pointed a finger at himself a let out a quiet chuckle.
"That would be mine. Welcome to the House of Black, Miss Granger," he said graciously and left, closing the door behind him. Hermione, not bothering to change her clothes, hopped into bed and pulled the covers tight to her chin, losing herself in thought.
'This house is Sirius'? Good gods I can't see him actually living here. It's so gloomy and he's just so cheerful…always happy and handsome. Handsome? Where did that come from? Oh gods Hermione, you're really losing your mind. Thinking that a man twice her age would even look at her twice.
But surprisingly at this very moment in the room next door, a handsome man was in fact pondering over how many times he had given a certain young lioness a good look and currently his tally had reached four. Sirius Black smiled to himself as one phrase repeated over and over in his mind until he drifted off into a pleasant sleep.
Mischief Managed.