Hermione lay in bed. It had felt so good to get her troubles off her chest today. It felt so good having someone to listen to her.
Hermione had been in a daze, most of the day. Sirius words had been replaying in her mind constantly. Hermione could not remember getting a greater compliment.
'Hermione, if I was twenty years younger, I'd treat you like a princess.'
How do you feel when some one says something like that to you, especially when it was from someone like Sirius who was not only kind and lovely but stunningly handsome as well.
He sees me as a child and he obviously cares for my well being. He knew that compliment would cheer me up and it did. Hermione fell asleep convincing herself of her theory.
Sirius lay in the bed in Lupin's spare room. He couldn't remember the last time he had slept in a bed. Tonk's had been surprised when Sirius had asked to stay in the spare room but it pleased her immensely that he seemed happier almost.
Sirius couldn't get the evening out of his mind. He had never in all his life felt as close to someone as he had to Hermione. The last person he had revealed his feelings to was James a long, long time ago, it felt like a relief to open up instead of bottling his feelings up.
When he had held her today he felt as all his dreams had come true. She see him for himself and not his mistakes that so often blighted his name. Sirius fell happily into a deep sleep.
Sirius awoke early the next morning, with Hermione vividly on his mind after a night of mind-blowing dreams. He gave a whistle and Hedwig, (who had been staying with Tonk's owl, Jiminy while Harry was away) appeared at his window. Sirius jumped out of bed and scribbled a quick message.
'Take this to Hermione, Hedwig.'
Sirius made his way downstairs to breakfast with Remus and Tonks.
Hermione awoke to a faint tapping at her window. She rose from her bed and Hedwig flew in as she opened the window. Hermione instantly thought it was a letter from Harry and Ginny and quickly untied the parchment. She opened it expecting to see Harry's scribbled handwriting but the writing inside she did not recognise, she sat on her bed and began to read.
Hermione,
I feel a lot better for talking to you yesterday, I hope you feel better too.
I was thinking maybe I could buy you lunch in Diagon Alley today? It's ok if you have other plans though. Let me know soon…Yours always
Sirius
'So tell me what's changed' Remus asked
'what do you mean?' asked Sirius innocently
'you know very well what I mean, Padfoot. You haven't slept in a bed for months and know you're here not only sleeping in a bed but waking at a reasonable hour to join us for breakfast.'
'nothings changed… I just well… I realised I have to stop feeling sorry to myself, I'm not the only one that the last few years have affected.'
Remus stared at him gob-smacked. He decided he could not reply to that and remained silent returning to his breakfast.
Hedwig flew straight through the open window and landed elegantly on Sirius' shoulder.
'what are you doing here, Hedwig' asked Remus suspiciously, eyeing the parchment tied to her leg.
Sirius ignored Remus and the look Tonks was giving him. He untied the Parchment and began to read
Sirius,
I am feeling a lot better now (thanks to you) and would be happy to meet you for lunch in Diagon Alley.
I'll meet you at The Weasleys Joke Shop at 1pm.
Thanks again Sirius,
Hermione x
Sirius quickly folded the parchment but looked up to see Tonks and Remus reading his letter over his shoulder.
'Your going on a date with Hermione?' she asked slightly confused
'Its not a date!' exclaimed Sirius a little to hastily.
'Ok, keep your kaks on.' Laughed Remus.
Sirius blushed. 'Its not a date, she was really upset yesterday and well… I just said if she ever needs to talk… you know. I wrote to her this morning to see if she was ok and offered to buy her lunch today, and she's accepted my offer. So if you'll excuse me, I'm going to take a shower.'
After Sirius had left the room. Tonks and Remus sat looking at each other.
'Sounds like a date to me.' said Tonks
'Hmm…' said Remus 'Maybe she's just what he needs, and he her.'
Sirius undressed in the bathroom, he stood in front of the mirror and took in the sight of his body. His shoulders and arms were muscular, his chest well defined with hair across his chest. His abs weren't as defined as they had been when he left Azcaban. Molly & Tonks had seen to that. He examined his face, in general his face did not portray his 36 years but his eyes held the look of someone who had seen much more than his years. His jet black hair was shoulder length with sideburns just below his ears. A stubble-beard met the side burns and covered the lower part of his face. Hi hands were large and rough like he had spent the last twenty years struggling with manual labour. His knuckles bore the tattooed prisioner number he had been assigned in Azcaban, 50887 on his left 661SB on his right, he turned to walk into the shower and caught the sight of his back in the full length mirror.
What he saw there made a small smile form on his lips. The tattoo on his back represented the moment when he had turned his back on his family. His parents had always disapproved of him, at the age of 11, he had started Hogwarts even though they had always doubted his magical ability. There, he had become the only Black to be sorted into a house over than Slytherin, He was a Gryffindor… Though they had associated this with his 'inner weakness'. The disappointments he had placed upon on his parents over the years mounted, he befriended mudbloods and half-bloods and eventually he had returned home at the age of 17 and a blazing argument had occurred. Sirius' father was congratulating his youngest and far superior son on becoming a death eater at the age of 16. Sirius had left the house that night and vowed never to return. He had found himself in muggle London and in the chair of a tattoist in Notting Hill. The Lion that covered the whole of his back was a symbol of what he truly was… A Gryffindor.