A sequel to keeping the faith...what happened next.
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Sirius threw open the door to Madame Malkins.

"Kinney!.. oh Kinney!!!" he shouted bustling out from the back room came a short round woman with artfully curled hair. She took one look and smiled widely.

"Sirius! How wonderful to see you again, you naughty boy, it's been too long"

He walked up to her and took her by the hands "Kinney my dear, I am in desperate need of your magic touch. Two sets of your finest muggle evening wear please. One for me and one for the lovely lady with me." he said making a sweeping gesture towards Hermione, who was a few steps behind him, smirking. Madame Malkin recognized her immediately and walked over to her.

"Hermione dear. its good to see you as well. How are those new work robes working out for you"

"Quite well actually. those extra wand pockets you added are..."

Sirius jumped in between them. " Oh no you don't!..nothing like that for us tonight. We need to be dazzling!" He grabbed Hermione and spins her around... "We are gonna outshine the stars tonight..." he sang Hermione laughed " I really need to get those Cd's back from you now"

Madame malkin laughed as well. "Now really Sirius, How am i supposed to work my magic with you twirling her about"

With infinite grace he lifted Hermione off her feet, spun her around one more time, then gently put her down in front on Madame Malkin.
"There. She's all yours. We are leaving directly from here so give her the works Kinney, Spare no expense. Is Minny still out back?"

"Of course my boy, I'd be lost without her. Even though I get a little tired of her going on and on about how she misses her wonderful Master."she grinned Sirius grinned back. "I always knew she had excellent taste." he turned towards Hermione."I'll see you in an hour and don't worry about anything. I've got it covered." Sirius bounded towards the back crooning "Minny..Minny my love? Where are you"

Madame Malkin sighed and shook her head with a smile. Then she turned back towards Hermione. She looked her up and down, gave an approving nod and without a word started measuring her.

Hermione, feeling awkward, asked her "Who's Minny?"

Madame Malkin waved her wand and fabric started flowing through the air in random shapes and colors as she studied it. "Minny is Sirius' old house elf that he freed"

"But I thought Kreacher was his family's house elf"

Madame Malkin started picking out various combinations from the fabrics in the air.

"Oh yes, that horrible beast was the family elf but Minny was his personal elf. She was called Krocty at the time, horrible name if you ask me. Anyway, Sirius caught Kreacher strangling her one night. He was so angry...He viciously kicked Kreacher out of his his rooms and revived her. He gave her clothes, a muggle hat with mouse ears that said Minny to be exact, so that she could get away from Kreacher and be happy. She cried to him saying she had no where to go. Knowing she was good with a needle and that i could never say no to him anyway, he brought her here. Now she will only answer to the name Minny and sings his praises to anyone who will listen... Now step on this block dear and try not to move. I want to see how these fabrics will look on you"

Hermione dutifully stepped up on the block and held as still as she could while her mind tried to absorb this new information about Sirius Black. She had always disliked his treatment of Kreacher. she thought it was the typical contempt that wizards always seemed to have for house elves. Now she realized that wasn't true at all, it was a personal grudge. He hated having Kreacher around because he had hurt the elf he cared about. but because of the order, he couldn't get rid of him. No wonder he was relieved when he had come back and found out that Kreacher had finally died in his sleep hiding from everybody. Sirius liked house elves just fine. in fact, had freed his own person elf so that she could be happy. These thoughts whirled around Hermione's brain.

"That's perfect"

Hermione started."What?,Huh"

Madame Malkin was looking at her with an approving smile.

"Look at yourself in the glass my dear, I think you will be pleased. The dress is perfect for you if i do say so myself. Oh put on these shoes first." and handed her a wicked looking pair of shiny black high heeled shoes.

Hermione slipped on the shoes, turned to look in the mirror, and found a stranger looking back. A dangerously beautiful stranger... The dress was made of a shimmery black, silky material that seemed to flow when she moved. It was sleeveless, open back, tied behind the neck and cut very low in the front with criss/cross lacing up the center. The skirt was artfully jagged and very short. Between the height of the heels and the length of the skirt, her legs looked like they went on for days. Who is that person, she thought to herself. Surely not the bookish, boring, never do anything Hermione Granger. She stood up a little straighter, cocked her hip to one side, and slow grin spread across her face. Should couldn't wait to see the look on Sirius' face... she'd show him she could be just as reckless when she wanted.

Madame Malkin Grinned at her." That's it my dear, you got it, Flaunt it!. Now, with a dress like that, I'm thinking hair down with smooth waves and a little drama to your makeup to put the finishing touches...Stay still. I know a wonderful charm to tame that hair of yours. Listen carefully so you can do it at home if your want"
She did a clockwise then a counter clockwise spin of her wand, and then whispered."tangleorium revisu"

Hermione felt a tingling at her scalp down to her fingers, then felt a soft weight fall on her shoulders. She looked in the glass to see her hair in smooth flowing waves over one shoulder with the other side held up be a gemstone comb. It also seemed longer than before with all the bushy curls gone Madame waved her wand again and she felt her face tingle a bit as the makeup appeared on her face. Smudged black liner and mascara to bring out her eye and scarlet lips to add that final touch.

Madame sighed. " You are a stunning woman Hermione. I can see what Sirius sees in you. I just hope you can handle him"

Hermione looked puzzled at her."I don't know what you mean. It isn't like that. He's just taking me out to say thank you and he hasn't been out..."

Madame Malkin just shook her head with a grin." I've known that boy since he got his first school robes. He used to hide here when he wanted to get away from his family and James wasn't around. I know he is a bit of a rouge, but the only other time i saw his eyes twinkle like the way they to you, was with Lilly"

Hermione looked stunned."You mean Lilly Potter, Harry's mother"

"OH yes dear. Sirius was mad for Lilly when they were in school together. Learned all the fancy spells to impress her. Paraded other girls around her to try to make her jealous. Then one day in there fifth year, he found a love poem that James had written about Lilly in James room. It broke Sirius's heart, but James was the brother he had never had. So he secretly delivered the note to Lilly for James and did everything he could to hide his feelings for her. I remember him coming here after too much butter-beer in there seventh year crying his eyes out that he would never love anyone as much as Lilly, except maybe James, and that's why those two deserved each other... I think as much as Sirius tried to hide it, James knew how Sirius felt... and was always grateful to him for helping him win her anyway. Asked Sirius be his best man and your godfather to prove how much he was family to him. By that point, of course, Sirius had turned that heartbreak into a friendship with Lilly almost as strong as his with James. Now for the first time in a long time,I see that old sparkle in his eye. And i don't think i am wrong to say that it is all about you. Don't worry dear, Sirius is a perfect gentleman, but if you think this is just a friendly gesture..you are in for a big surprise, i can tell. Now let me go in back and see what is taking him so long to get out here." and she hurried down the corridor to the back, leaving Hermione's head spinning.

She's got to be wrong, she crazy. Sirius is just a friend. A very good friend. But in love? No way, not possible. I'm just me, nothing fancy.what could he possibly see in me? And me and him, together, would never work. I mean, he is very good looking,intelligent, loves to have fun, set for life, kind, caring...oh no...I'm in deep, deep trouble here.

Then she looked at her self in the mirror again and saw that vision of herself. That dangerous, confident, dare i say it, alluring vision that was her staring back. A huge grin spread across her face...screw it!!!! i am going to have fun tonight and not worry about anything. This is my night to be the bell of the ball and dammit, i am going to enjoy every minute of it! she nodded to herself in the mirror. The she saw in the reflection Sirius coming down the hallway towards the front. She spun around to see him just as he walked in. They both stopped dead in there tracks, and with similar gobsmacked expressions on there faces, stared at each other.

Sirius was wearing black tailored pants, a midnight blue silk shirt with matching tie, a black leather blazer, and a small pair of dark blue glasses slid partway down his nose. His hair had been neatened so that it was still long, but rakishly so, instead of just sloppy. He managed to look savage and elegant in the same breath. Which was good for him, bad for Hermione, because she could barely breathe herself. Ohgodohgodohgod... he is beautiful...and i am a dead woman.

Sirius was having some respiratory trouble himself. Dear Lord!!! He had never seen her this way.He had always thought she was a pretty girl when she was younger and a good looking woman when he came back from the veil, but... this was...i don't believe...did i say dear lord already cause ..dear lord. She was stunning, and the best part was that she didn't really care about it...if he was attracted to her before...and he was... he was outright falling for her now!...oh boy...i am a dead man...again.

Madame Malkin burst out laughing. "Enough staring you two and more moving. I didn't dress you up like stars so you could stand in my storeroom and make eyes at each other. Get out there and show off my genius"

Hermione blushed to her roots...her heart skipped several beats and she could practicaly feel Sirius's eyes staring her up and down... and he looked like he coud eat her with a spoon. Hermione, never one to back down from a chalange, put her hand on her hip, gave him a grin and said.."You like"

Sirius, grinning like a madman, looked at her with eyes that were practicaly preditory.. " Oh yes...Me like...a lot." and tipped her a wink

Feeling brave, Hermione winked back."You're not looking to bad youself mister." Sirius struck a pose and she laughed." So where are you taking me tonite?...Since you are the Captian of this voyage"

"Well my lady, I thought we would try out that new wizards place in Paris. Its supposed to be all the rage...muggle clothing only and all...after that, what ever you wish." And he held out his arm.

Hermione knew there was a double message in that, but chose to ignore it...for now, and she took his arm and off they went out the door.

MadameMalkin shook her head.."They are in for so much trouble"

"Yes they are." said a voice coming from behind her "They are indeed."said another identical voice. Fred and George Weasly came out from the side room grinning.

Madame Malkin grinned back at them."I dont know how i let you two talk me into these things"

George took one of her hands.." Because you love us dear, and more importanly you love them"

Fred took her other hand." Normaly we like just plain reaking havoc, but this was a special case. After our dear brother was such a pratt, we felt honor bound to do something about it"

Malkin looked at them slyly.." You could have just bought her flowers or something"

Fred laughed.."Now where's the fun in that"

Malkin sighed with a smile.." I just hope they can handle it"

George looked at her with a look of mock innocence." But my dear, you know the old saying... The Truth Shall Set Us Free"

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This story has kinda taken a life of its own... the sequal.."the truth shall set you free" will be coming as soon as possible...i hate cliffhangers too!!!!!!!!