Hey everyone! Thank you so much for your reviews! I'm going on vacation for a week so I'll be back in a week, hopefully updating very soon once I come home. So I tried to make this chapter a little longer to make up for my absence. Keep in mind that a lot of it revolves around an Order meeting. I figured to make this more realistic, I'd have to incoporate meetings into the fic. So please review and I'll see you in a week!

To Love a Marauder

"What ya reckon their talking about down there?" the youngest Weasley male asked while shoving a spoonful of beef stew down his throat. Disgusted at his gruesome eating display, Hermione scrunched her nose and looked away to face the rest of the red heads that sat in the girls room.

"I'm assuming whatever their discussing might have to deal with that secret weapon Sirius told us about," Hermione speculated, putting her spoon down onto her rusted tray with a clank. Fred and George, who were sprawled on the floor flipping through Quidditch magazine, sat up with identical puzzled expression on both of their faces.

"Maybe it's some top secret deadly potion!" Fred said suddenly, the wheels in his brain churning. Hermione perused his suggestion but found it to be highly doubtful.

"There's already plenty of deadly potions in existence and I'm sure You-Know-Who could brew them anytime he wants," she told them her opinion. Ginny nodded her head in agreement from next to Hermione and placed her own tray onto the bed stand with shaky hands.

"I think their talking about Harry," the red head said quietly, avoiding the upward glances that landed on her. Hermione tentatively placed a hand on Ginny's back soothingly, hoping the other boys wouldn't think too much into her gesture.

"I'm sure that if they are talking about him it has to do with protecting him and keeping him safe. He's got the entire Order on his side guarding him; Harry's going to be fine," she reassured the younger girl, giving her a final pat on the back. Ginny looked up at Hermione to see her friends kind and warm smile.

"You're right, he's in good hands," Ginny sighed and absentmindedly twiddled her fingers.

"I hope Harry gets here soon, I need a guy to talk to that isn't one of these two knuckle heads," Ron remarked, jerking his head in the direction of the twins who were now fiddling with something in their hands.

"You might want to reconsider calling us knuckleheads when you see what we've got," George waved the object he was holding in his hand with a sly grin.

"Would you care to do the honors, Fred?" George asked as he stood up. Fred followed suit and bowed graciously.

"Why yes I would dear George," he accepted courteously. Turning to the other, he opened his hand and a long red cord with something attached to it fell to the floor. In his hand he held a similar flesh colored object to the one on the other end of the string.

"May I present to you the latest creation from Weasley Wheezes," Fred dramatically announced, gesturing his other hand at the object. Hermione cocked her head to the side, examining the contents of his hand.

"The Extendable Ear is made to be used for eavesdropping in on conversations through closed doors of any thickness, keeping in mind they cannot penetrate strong sound barring wards if they are placed," he explained to the group. Hermione looked upon the invention with fascination, truly impressed by their work.

"That's quite remarkable magic," she complimented, reaching out to brush a finger on the red chord. The twins smiled broadly; proud of their work.

"What the blood hell are we waiting for? Let's put those Ears to use!" Ron jumped up and down, snatching one of the ears away. He tore out of the bedroom with the twins on his heels. Ginny and Hermione remained on the bed, debating what to do.

"Do you think we should join them?" Ginny questioned with a tinge of hopefulness in her voice. Hermione frowned and then bit her lip in nervous habit.

"It's not right…listening in on their private conversation," the brown haired girl reasoned. Ginny reluctantly nodded and let out a disappointed sigh,

"Yeah I guess you're right, we mustn't spy on the meeting," Ginny said. The two girls silently looked at each other, unable to avoid the devilish twinkle they reflected in their gaze.

"Oh hell, it can't hurt," Hermione gave in, standing up and grabbing Ginny's hand to drag her along.

"I knew you couldn't resist!" Ginny exclaimed; giddy with excitement. The girls raced out of the room and silently tip toed down the staircase. When they reached the bottom, they were shushed instantly by the trio of Weasley boys crouched a few feet away, clutching an Extendable Ear. Hermione observed that the other end of the Ear led directly to the kitchen door and was slid underneath.

"Heard anything good?" Ginny whispered as her and Hermione kneeled beside the boys, hovering over the flesh colored object.

"Who can patrol on the 24th? It's a Friday," Remus Lupin asked the crowd that was seated in the kitchen of Number Twelve Grimmauld Place. He was standing up beside a large magical calendar that was floating in midair. On it, various names of Order members were scribbled underneath dates. There was one date of the month left to hand out to someone, and it was turning out to be quite the bugger indeed.

"I've got my daughters birthday party, so I'm unavailable," Kinglsey Shacklebolt announced, taking a sip of the coffee Mrs. Weasley had brewed. Remus diverted his gaze to Tonks, whose eyes seemed clouded with unyielding lust.

"Nymphadora, would it trouble you to take post that evening?" The werewolf requested with a slight caress in his voice, knowing he had an advantage over the love struck woman.

"I told you never to call me that! It's Tonks," she said irritably, her eyes instantly turning cold. Remus bowed his head apologetically and silently cursed himself for using her blasted first name.

"Forgive me, it slipped my mind. Tonks, my dear, are you available?" he asked again, making sure to emphasize her nickname. Her expression softened and she gave him a twisted grin.

"Can't, I've got some 'important' Ministry business assigned to me by the lovely Dolores Umbridge," she announced, wincing at the woman's name.

"Ah, delightful woman isn't she?" Arthur Weasley quipped from his chair, giving a sarcastic smile.

"'Ay, she's a delightful piece of work, that she is," the gruff voice of Mad Eye Moody commented from his standing position by the sink. His magical eye was currently floating in a glass of water in effort for it to be cleaned.

"Okay, well now that we've established how wonderful she is, can we please get on with business?" Lupin said, becoming agitated with the small gibes being exchanged. Sirius, who had been quiet most of the meeting, reached over from his chair next to Remus and gave him an encouraging pat on the back.

"Relax, mate. They're just having a bit of fun. Gods know we need it," he told his friend, giving him a weak smile. His gesture seemed to have helped Remus regain his dwindling patience.

"Alright, I'm sorry I've been disagreeable, I'm just tired," Lupin admit, the grey hairs int his brown mop were dreadfully prominent even in the dim lighting.

"Severus, maybe you can…?" he was pleading now, hoping that maybe the greasy git had an opening in his packed schedule.

"I'm afraid I cannot oblige to taking on another patrol date, even though I've already generously exceeded the required amount," Severus Snape smirked amidst his curtain of black lanky hair. To everyone's distaste, even sitting down the man made quite a menacing figure.

"Nobody was forcing you to volunteer for all of those dates, Snviellus," Sirius growled as he felt a bout of protectiveness for his best friend kick in. Snape took a sip of his coffee, keeping his beady eyes glued on Sirius'.

"At least I can volunteer, Black. Unlike you who have become nothing more than a prisoner in your own house," the Potion's Master spat as he spout his clever comeback that he knew would get Sirius riled up.

"Why you lousy piece of---"Sirius barked, making a movement to stand, but was stopped by Mrs. Weasley's hand on his shoulder, squeezing it firmly.

"I will not accept childish fighting at the dinner table, so please cease this silly banter at once," Molly told the men, pointing the index finger of her free hand sternly at Snape and Sirius.

"I have no problem being civil amongst company that isn't so…uncouth," Snape raised his nostrils as if smelling a bad taste in the air. Sirius' nails dug deep into the wooden table in front of him as he fought to restrain himself, only for Molly's sake.

"Enough already! Good gods is anyone able to take the dammed date without starting the Second War?" Lupin finally cracked, bellowing loudly at the bunch. Sirius bent his head down, feeling guilty he had instigated the argument and had not been able to offer help in covering a patrol date.

"I do believe the Second War has already started; the cause not due to the argumentative nature of myself and Mr.Black," Severus said silkily, not being able to contain himself. His unnecessary remark stimulated a small uproar as Sirius' chair squeaked loudly as it was pushed away from under him as he stood up. Lupin had lashed out in Snape's direction as well, in great contrast to his usual peaceful manner. The two Marauders' had over-exceeded their daily dose of Severus Snape and were now intending to 'rip him a new one.'

"STOP THIS FOOLISHNESS RIGHT NOW!" Molly Weasley raved, and with a slash of her wand, Sirius and Lupin were thrown into the nearest wall and Snape's mouth was bound shut with an invisible gag.

"Ouch, that hurt," Sirius groaned as he rubbed the back on his head where it had collided with a wooden cabinet.

"Good! It serves you right, acting like your fifteen years old. You all need to forget about your immature child hood rivalry in the past. Start thinking about the situation at hand! We're all in mortal danger, and we need our strongest minds and talents to work together. How on earth do you expect to conquer You-Know-Who when all you do is make these meetings a bloody circus!" The red headed woman scolded the men, shaking her wand furiously. Sirius and Lupin looked ashamed at her truthful words, but Snape appeared to be thoroughly pissed off, trying time and time again to open his mouth, only to be thwarted by Molly's immensely powerful Jaw-Locking Jinx.

"Now are you going to behave yourselves?" She eyed the guilty figures of Remus and Sirius and they both nodded slowly. Molly turned her attention over to Snape who didn't look agreeing by any means.

"I'm not countering that Jinx until you give me your word you will act accordingly in this household," she threatened, twirling her wand. Severus rolled his eyes in annoyance and then curtly nodded his head, signifying he would succumb to her terms, however unpleasant they were.

"Wonderful," she proclaimed, waving her wand in the direction of the dungeon bat. The Jinx lifted and he stretched his jaw openly.

"As much as I detest you're motherly instinct," Snape began flexing his jaw, catching Molly's penetrating glare, "I have to admit that was quite a thorough spell, even if it is mediocre."

Mrs. Weasley recognized his statement as heartfelt and smiled warmly at the man, ignoring the protesting scowls of Lupin and Sirius.

"Why thank you Severus. That was very admirable of you to commend me when I know you don't like me in the least," she told him. Severus had overworked his nice-factor for the day and just sneered at her in return. Before he could say yet another condescending comment, Arthur interjected.

"We still haven't solved the patrol date problem," the male Weasley reminded everyone, gesturing towards the calendar. Lupin came back to his dutiful senses and straightened himself to stand taller.

"Are there any taker whatsoever? If not, we might as well send Voldemort an invitation to come prance into the Ministry that night," Remus looked at each person around the table with a wary expression.

"Excuse me, but why aren't you volunteering for that date?" a young Auror named Andromeda Abbott asked Lupin. She, as well as two other new Auror's that had been brought to the meeting by Tonks, had been quiet the entire time aside from every once in a while accepting to patrol a date.

"Ehrm...Well…I….it's a bad time," Lupin fumbled over his words, turning a shade of pink. Sirius watched as his friend dove into a state of uncomfort and wished he could do something to put him out of his misery. Surprisingly, Snape was the one who came to Remus' rescue instead.

"That time of the month is not ideal for Mr. Lupin to engage in physical activity. He has a medical condition that is very private and I'm sure he does not wish to indulge exactly what it is to you three, who he barely knows let alone trusts with his great secret," Snape snapped at the girl and her friends. His statement had obviously satisfied her as well as her fellow coworkers and they fell silent once again.

"Thank you, Severus," Lupin said quietly, still looking downwards. Snape did not say anything in regards to the expression of gratitude; instead he decided to resolve the dilemma of the date on his own.

"I'll do the bloody patrol, write me in," Snape growled, thunking his coffee cup on the table. Lupin could have lit up an entire room with the smile that broke onto his face. Happily, he pointed his wand at the box in the calendar under the 24th and magically, Severus' name scrawled itself there in blood red ink.

"I guess you're not such a jack ass after all," Tonks put in, an amused smirk on her smooth face. Snape snorted in something that seemed like a strangled chortle.

"I wouldn't suggest jumping to such an absurd conclusion, Nmyphadora," Snape's sickeningly sweet voice melted like butter.

"Well that about wraps it up, doesn't it? " Arthur stood up quickly, preventing another series of argument as he watched Tonks seethe with anger. At Arthur's dismissal, everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief.

"Until we meet again!" Arthur called out as the crowd rose from their seats and shuffled toward the door.

"Nice seeing you again, Arthur," Tonks bade him farewell from the door frame.

"You too, Tonks. Take care, and tell Mad-Eye I said goodbye as well. I know he wants to see McHart apprehended in Diagon Alley tonight," Mr. Weasley said, stretching his arms and legs. Tonks nodded and waved goodbye as she followed Snape out of the door; he not even bothering to say good bye to anyone.

"How are you doing, Remus?" Molly asked the exhausted man once everyone aside from the Weasley and Sirius had departed. He slumped down into a chair and yawned, extending his arms above his head.

"I'm worn out, Molly. I didn't think being in charge of these meetings would be so stressful, but I was very mistaken," he told her with drooping eyes. Molly smiled sadly as she took note of how old the man looked, even though he was fairly young.

"You're doing a wonderful job though. I think anyone else would have hexed someone into oblivion by now," Arthur put in kindly. Remus gave a tiny smile and started to stand up.

"I should really be going; I've got a load of stuff to do tomorrow that would be fairly difficult without sufficient sleep," Lupin stifled another yawn.

"Have a goodnight, my friend," Arthur said as Molly began to escort Lupin out of the kitchen.

"Knock em' dead, Moony," Sirius smiled from his seat as he raised his mug to the man's departing figure.

"As you wish, Padfoot," Remus' voice echoed into the kitchen as he looked over his shoulder to give Sirius a wink. He vanished out of sight with Molly into the hallway, leaving Arthur and Sirius to themselves in the kitchen.

"FRED AND GEORGE WEASLEY, WHAT IS THAT 'THING' IN YOUR HANDS?" Molly's shrilly shriek rang throughout the house, immediately reaching the kitchen. Sirius and Arthur exchanged confused looks and sprang from their seats, taking off toward the hallway.

"Bloody hell," Ron groaned as his mother bombarded the small cluster of children huddled close to the kitchen door.

"WHAT IS THIS?" Molly boomed, snatching the Extendable Ears from the twin's hands. Ginny had turned red faced, matching her flaming hair perfectly, as Hermione looked away from the roaring mother, ashamed to catch her gaze.

"ExtendableEars," Fred muttered, looking down at the floor. Molly puffed out her cheeks and leaned in closer toward her sons.

"What did you say?" she hissed. Fred brought his eyes to meet his mothers and he sighed in defeat.

"Extendable Ears, Mum. It lets you listen in on conversations," he explained as he felt a hard jab from Ron hit him in the ribs.

"What did you tell her that for?" Ron cried, looking frantically at the Ears, knowing his mother would surely confiscate them.

"So we wouldn't get into anymore trouble then we're already in!" Hermione stepped in, glaring angrily at Ron. Mrs. Weasley ranted and scolded the underage children but Hermione had stopped listening. Right after her outburst directed at Ron, she caught someone's grey eyes over Molly's shoulder.

Sirius

The black, shaggy haired man rounded the corner with Arthur by his side as they rushed toward the source of Molly's bone shattering yells. When they found her, she was hovering over Fred and George. Ron was currently elbowing Fred in the chest, only to be reprimanded by an angry Hermione Granger.

Hermione

Sirius stopped walking and looked directly at her. The thoughts he kept pushing out of his head about her during the meeting came tumbling back into his mind as she looked away from Ron and met his grey eyes.

'Gods, her brown honey pools…her pink lips that she bites when she's nervous…her exceeding intelligence…that loving smile…those caring arms that she wrapped around me...

I can't keep doing this!

She's so young…so full of life... I'm neither of those things; she deserves someone that can take her to dinner and all those fancy things. I'm stuck in this house, aging faster than I should. Shes too good for me... I've got to stop these absurd thoughts about her.'

"Up to bed, NOW," Molly finished her speech, thrusting her finger toward the stair case. Sulking, the Weasley boys headed up the stairs first, making sure to stomp every step of the way. Ginny followed quietly after them, leaving Hermione with Molly.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Weasley. We shouldn't have intruded in on your private discussion. It was wrong," she peeled her eyes off of Sirius and looked at Molly apologetically. The mother Weasley gave the brown haired girl a small smile and wrapped her in a hug. Sirius felt a gush of jealously as he wished for a fleeting moment that he could be the one giving her a tender embrace.

"I know you kids are very curious, but there are just some things that are meant to be kept secret, the Order's business is one of them," she told the girl, patting her once more on the back and then releasing her. Hermione gave her a radiant smile that made Sirius' heart leap.

'I wish she'd smile at me like that more often. It really is beautiful…'

"Arthur and I are going to go to bed; if you're still hungry I'm sure Sirius can help you out there, right Sirius?" Molly asked him, turning around to face him. Still caught up in his thoughts, the words flew in one ear and out the other.

"Cat got your tongue, Sirius? Or should I say dog?" Molly joked, reaching out to gently prod him. Sirius shook his head and saw that Molly was looking at him expectedly and Hermione had a curious eyebrow raised.

"Sorry, Molly. What did you say?" he asked her, pushing some stray hair out of his face, carefully avoiding Hermione's stare.

"I said that Arthur and I were going to sleep and that if Hermione was hungry, you would fix her something to eat, but only if you want…" Molly repeated herself. Sirius could have done a jig on the spot, but he remained composed.

'The gods must be feeling awfully generous today, here is Molly practically handing me Hermione! Oh shit, what am I talking about, I CANNOT try to woo her. I simply can't.'

"Of course I can cook her something, don't worry about it. You two go to bed," Sirius smiled at the couple. Molly mouthed 'thank you' and turned toward the stairs. Arthur wrapped his arm around his wife's waist and they started toward the stairs.

"Goodnight, Sirius," the Weasley's chorused from the top floor.

"Night!" Sirius called back, glancing up towards the stairs. He turned his attention back to the girl standing in front of him. She wore a shy grin and fingered the hem of her white blouse.

"Ah, so we meet again," Sirius broke the silence, realizing they were both now truly alone. Hermione breathed in and leaned against the wall closest to her.

"So we do," she stated, her bashfulness disappearing slowly.

"I guess you already know how the meeting went, seeing as you spied on us," Sirius remarked with a mischievous smile. Hermione opened her mouth to retort, but stopped herself.

"Personally, I think you lot are brilliant and those Ear things the twins made are intriguing. If I had a choice, I would just tell you everything that went on at the meetings, saving you the trouble of spying, but you know I can't do that," he told her, licking his dry lips.

"I know you'd tell us if you could, I trust you," Hermione said quietly, giving him a grin. Sirius could feel the familiar fluttering in his abdomen.

'Holy Merlin's ass, she trusts me? That's a big thing to say, trust isn't something easy to come by now a days. The weirdest part though, is that I think I might trust her too.'

"Are you hungry? I mean, Molly did give me a mission to feed you," Sirius asked, changing the topic.

"I'm not very hungry actually," she admitted, shrugging innocently. Sirius cursed her stomach; he wanted to spend some time with her but he needed an excuse. Simply asking her to stay and chat seemed a bit bold.

'Oh the hell with it, if she says no it won't be any damage to my ego.

Okay well maybe a little but that's beside the point.'

"Perhaps you'd just like to stay and talk? I've had a pretty stressful evening and chatting with you might help me relax," he asked her, flushing a bit.

"That sounds lovely." Hermione gave him one of her trademark smiles. She glanced up and down the hallway and then frowned.

"Would you rather move this conversation to a more…homey area?" she requested, while dust from the ceiling fell onto her hair in a snowy mess.

"Let me get that," Sirius said softly as he reached out his hand and brush the particles off of her hair. He smiled as he felt her soft tresses in between his fingers, feeling as if he could leave them entwined there forever.

"Thank you," she whispered, meeting his grey eyes once again. Sirius' breathing quickened as he realized how close they actually were. He could feel her warm breath hitting neck. He tilted his head down so that their mouths were inches apart. Sirius saw her eyes reflecting the emotions of want..need..…and uncertainty.

'She doesn't want me…she's not ready for this.'How could I be so naive?'

"I'm sorry…" Sirius gasped and pulled away from her, untangling his hand from her hair. He could see red circles on her cheeks as her chest raise and sink rapidly.

"No it's alright…you were just taking the dust out of my hair, right?" she asked him with a nervous smile. Sirius knew she was well aware of his intention but decided to go along with the act.

"Yeah…the dust," Sirius mumbled; clearly blushing furiously right now.

'Blushing? I'm blushing? Gods damn it, I went through hell in Azkaban without showing a single emotion and now this girl is making a thirty something year old man blush. I'm a disgrace.'

"I think I should go to bed, it's getting late. We can chat tomorrow," the words tumbled from her pink mouth at the speed of light, herslef already heading for the stairs. Sirius nodded and managed a weak grin.

"Goodnight, Hermione."

Hermione whipped open the door to the bedroom she shared with Ginny and crossed the room in about two steps and threw herself onto her bed, not bothering to change her clothes. Her heart was beating rapidly as she pulled the covers up to her chin, staring at the ceiling in furious thought.

'Dear gods, he tried to kiss me! Sirius Black wanted to kiss me! AND I DIDN'T LET HIM! Am I bloody stupid? What the hell is wrong with me, I could have kissed him….oh why did I have to look so damn unsure of myself? I mean of course deep down I wanted to, but I have to consider all the problems with this here.

He's Harry's Godfather, he's twice my age, he's a prisoner to himself, he's undoubtedly very experienced…

But do all of those things really matter all that much or am I just finding excuses for myself not to be happy for once?

Well, what I must do is obvious, isn't it?

I've got to woo Sirius Black