Just A Stupid Crush

Chapter 10

Sirius' POV

Everyone was falling asleep one by one and soon I was the only one left awake. I stared into the fire completely lost in thought. Tonight had to be one of the, if not, the most, wonderful night of my life. The charm that I placed on Hermione was one that the Marauders invented. Its intention was just to make people see things that are not really there, but I tweaked it and added more to it to work in my case. I suppose Remus was right after all. It seems as though she really has liked me all this time that I've liked her. Oh no, Remus and I made a bet on that. Maybe he'll forget that I owe him ten galleons… werewolves are forgetful aren't they? If not, it's nothing a simple memory charm couldn't take care of. Haha… oh I am awful.

I glanced over to where Hermione was sleeping soundly, all curled up and with the firelight shining on her face. I was almost afraid that this was all a dream that I might be waking up from any moment. I told Hermione not to tell Harry and Ron anything yet. I don't know why, but I get the feeling that they just wouldn't understand yet. Dumbledore will be another issue. I cannot image him approving of this. After all, I am a Hogwarts professor and she the Head Girl.

I shook my head trying to clear the thoughts away. I shouldn't be thinking of these things now. For right now, I should just be happy that I finally have my Hermione. Hmm, my Hermione. I like the sound of that. With that last thought I felt myself slipping away, falling asleep truly happy for the first time in a long time.

General POV

Albus Dumbledore paced his office unsure how to go about this. He knew this situation would eventually come up, he had noticed it all along, but he was not ready to deal with is so soon. A faculty member and a student. If only they could have held out a little longer then this would not be such a problem.

On the one hand, Dumbledore knew better than to stand in the way of love. They may not yet realize that this is love, but they will eventually. It took them long enough to realize their feelings for one another so it is only a matter of time before they discover the true love that they hold for one another.

On the other hand, a faculty member is not allowed to have relations with a student. Dumbledore could just imagine people accusing her of using him to get though his class. Although anyone who knows Hermione should know better than that. He could imagine the hard time everyone would give Sirius. So much has gone wrong in that poor mans life; he deserves something good for once.

Dumbledore sighed an old mans weary sigh and resolved to speak with them both about this at a later time. For now, I'll let them enjoy one another's company.

Sirius' POV

I woke up not remembering at first all that had gone on the night before. Then it all came flooding back to me and with the memories came the smile that would not go away. A swift glance around the room told me that everyone was still sleeping and that it was not yet morning. I could see Hermione shivering and noticed that the fire had been reduced to a few glowing embers. I silently put a warming charm on her and determined that I should get them back to their own beds. They can't be too comfortable sleeping sitting up.

I resolved to wake Hermione first so to at least have a moment with her before she goes back to her own room. I stood up and walked toward her. Crouching down in front of her, I gently kissed her forehead.

"Hermione?" I whispered softly. I could see her stirring gently. She opened her eyes slowly and a smile stretched across her face when she recognized me.

"Sirius!"

I smiled back at her then got a brilliant idea. "Hermione, I think you, Ron, and Harry should go back to your own rooms. But listen to me. I want you to leave something of yours here. Your wand or anything you have with you. Will you do that for me?" Even though she was still half asleep she understood what I was asking her to do. I nodded once and kissed her forehead again while watching her face light up and the smile stretch farther across her face.

I moved over to where Harry and Ron were sleeping on the couch. Not caring how I woke them up, I shook them both roughly. They're heavy sleepers anyway.

"Harry? Ron? You guys have to go back to your rooms now," I told them as they were stretching and yawning awake. They both looked around and then nodded sleepily. Half asleep, they got up and stumbled towards the door. I smirked as Ron tripped over a chair that had not been there a moment ago and landed noisily on the ground. This was enough to wake Remus up and make everyone else slightly more awake. I pretended to roll my eyes and offered to walk them back to the common room.

"If for nothing else than to make sure you don't run into anything else."

Harry, Ron, and Hermione all agreed and Remus said that he should be getting back to his own room. Hermione gave me an amused look like I had something to do with this. Well, I did but that wasn't the point. I stuck my tongue out at her after realizing that everyone else was too sleepy to realize anything. Hermione giggled and discreetly dropped her wand on the chair she was sleeping on. I tried to hid the smile that was creeping onto my face.

We left my rooms and moments later got to the Fat Lady. Harry mumbled the password and I said goodnight to them.

"Oh no!" Hermione said suddenly, almost fooling even me for a moment. "Sirius, I think I've forgotten my wand in your rooms. Would you mind if we went back and got it?" She's pretty good. Had I not already known that she was lying, I might have really believed her.

"Sure, not a problem," I responded. She looked relieved and said goodnight to Harry and Ron. They mumbled something and waved a hand in reply. As soon as the portrait hole was closed, I began laughing.

"I think they were really looking forward to getting back to sleep," I said still laughing a little.

"I swear, those two," Hermione said rolling her eyes and laughing a little herself. I loved simply seeing her smile.

"Well, since you so carelessly left your wand back in my room, I suppose we should go retrieve it," I said feigning being annoyed. She didn't believe it for a moment and pushed me playfully.

We walked back to my rooms just enjoying walking next to one another. Upon arriving at my rooms, I opened the door for her and ushered her inside. She smiled and walked in. She made her way over to the chair that was currently holding on to her wand for her, with me following right behind. She picked up her wand and turned around almost running into me. She jumped a little not realizing I had been right behind her. I cupped her face and looked into her eyes. She looked pleasantly surprised.

"Hermione," I started and then paused. I wasn't sure how to say this. "I- er- I'm- well… I'm old," I finished a little sheepishly.

Her face was blank for a moment and then she burst out laughing.

"Is that all this is about?" She asked still laughing. "Sirius, listen. I don't care. I don't care how old you are or how young I am. It doesn't matter to me." She still looked very amused. I was only a little relieved. I still wanted to ask her some other things but maybe some other time.

"Really? Well that's good. I was afraid you would be disgusted if you realized how old I really was." She smiled at me and looked like she was about to say something but I cut her off by placing a kiss softly on her lips. Oh how I loved the feeling of my lips on hers. I pulled her closer to me and deepened the kiss. My hands almost started roaming but then a red flag went up in my mind. I pulled away from her. I have to take this slower. Hermione is a girl I'd like to keep.

"Hermione," I said softly. "I think we should take things slow, if that's alright with you." She looked up at me with her big brown eyes and then nodded.

"I agree. I'd like to take things slow as well," she said smiling up at me. Oh that smile. This was going to be harder than I thought.

"Well, I guess you should be getting back now. I'll walk you back?"

"Sure," she said happily, "I'd like that."

We made our way to the door together but then I turned towards her suddenly remembering something.

"I'll have to say a proper goodnight here. The portraits talk out there," I said nodding my head towards the hallway on the other side of the door. "It would be best if we kept the people that know about us down to a minimum. Professors aren't technically supposed to have this kind of relationship with their students. Now come here, you," I said pulling her towards me and wrapping my arms around her tightly. We pulled away after a moment and I softly kissed her forehead.

"Sirius, thank you for everything." I looked at her confused for a moment.

"For what?" I asked curiously.

"Just for everything," she said smiling. "I'm glad that I became Harry's best friend so I could have the opportunity to simply meet you. I can't think of a time when I've been happier or known a person who has made me happier than you make me. So I guess I'm just thanking you for being you."

I stared at her amazed. I'm not sure anyone has ever thanked me for being myself before. This was going to be a lot harder than I thought.

"Hermione…" I was speechless but she seemed to understand. She looked up at me a little shyly as she stood up on her toes and touched her lips softly to mine. A tingle spread through my entire body. She pulled away slowly and took a step towards the door indicating she was now ready to go back to her own room. I didn't move, still staring at the place she had just been.

"Coming?" she asked now looking amused. I was still standing there in a daze. I looked at her and nodded stupidly, my mind still a little fuzzy. She noticed I wasn't moving and took a step back towards me, grabbing my hand and pulling me towards the door. "Well come on then," she said trying not to laugh. She let go of my hand as soon as we were through the door remembering what I had said about the portraits talking. The rest of the walk back to the common room was compromised of small talk until we reached the Fat Lady. We both said goodnight as if nothing had changed, but the look in her eyes, and probably in my own as well, indicated that something had indeed changed.

AN: Mostly fluff but an update none the less. Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Once again, I have no idea when the next chapter will be out but I promise no more of that waiting for months and months crap. If you're curious to know when the next chapter will be out, I've started putting notes in my profile so look for that. It's at the bottom, you can't miss it. Well that's about it. Please review, it makes me happy!

PadfootBlack4Ever

PS- I slightly edited the last little bit of this chapter because the way I had it before kind of suggested that they slept together or something which I didn't even realize until someone commented on it. Anyway, it has been changed to be cleared that they go back to the common room after their little talk and not to go sleep together. I apologise if you got that impression and thank you for bringing it up.