A/N: Sorry if took so long to update, but I hope that this makes up for it a little. Finally some Sirius Hermione goodness. Sorry if Sirius seems a bit OOC. As always please review.
"I specifically said no spells!" Professor Parkes boomed, as he faced Sirius in his office. "Out of all the people I should have known that you would have been the one to break my rules. What do you have to say for yourself?!"
"Professor, it way Snape who attacked me first…" Sirius began.
"Silence! I do not want to hear it Mr. Black. It is always something with you. I should have you expelled from the school for constantly breaking the rules."
"That will not be necessary." Came a gentle voice from the door.
"Albus."
"Albatross what is the meaning of this?"
"Mr. Black preformed a dueling curse when I explicitly told the class not to, until the time that I returned. He should be punished."
"Well Albatross, if you saw him preform the curse then you must have been there and so no harm was done."
"But sir…"
"That will be all." Dumbledore said as he began to leave. But before he could get very far he caught the smug look on Sirius' face. "Mr. Black I believe you are late for study period in the great hall."
It was a comment that was intended to reprimand the boy, as well as get him moving as quickly as possible.
"Yes, sir." He replied as he quietly scattered out of the office, but before he could get too far he heard the familiar words: "Detention tonight Black, and 10 points from Gryffindor". "Yes sir." The boy acknowledged before leaving the office where he could still here Dumbledore and Parkes discussing hotly. Knowing that he had slipped away with his skin between his teeth he was not about to risk being dragged back into the discussion, and so quickly ran off to find a few of his friends in the great hall.
"Pads!" Sirius turned around to find James coming towards him from the hospital wing, where he had just left Remus and Solarius.
"Prongs, how is Moony?"
"Sore but awake." James said with a sigh as both boys continued on their way to the Great Hall. "Pads why do you do it?"
"Do what?"
"Why are you so mean to Hermione? The girl has not done anything to warrant it."
"I don't know."
"Do you really hate her so much?" James knew his friend like he knew himself, and he was sure that Sirius was hiding something. He was also certain that he knew what it was but wanted to hear it from Sirius.
"That is just it I don't." Sirius said with a deep sigh.
"Then why mate?"
Running his hand through his hair he whispered "Because I like her." It was so quiet that James did not even hear him at first.
"Sorry? Did not catch that."
"BECAUSE I LIKE HER!" Sirius yelled, causing a few students in the hallway to look up towards him, and himself to blush. It was only when he glanced at James and his smug smile that he realized that James had known all along. That he was only trying to draw the confession out of him. It was that realization that resulted in Sirius punching James in the arm hard. "You git! You knew?!"
"Of course I knew." James said rubbing his sore arm.
"Then why?"
"Because I want you to admit your feelings and stop being a right git towards the girl."
With another deep sigh Sirius quietly admitted to his friend that he really had no idea what he was going to do. Sure he had had many girlfriends, but never had he felt this way before. He was slowly genuinely falling for the bushy haired bookworm, and that scared him.
"Well the first thing you do is apologize and ask her out."
"But Prongsy boy, what about all of the other lovely birds around here? What will they say to the famous Sirius Black settling down?" And just like that the insecure Sirius was gone and replaced with the womanizer.
"Christ Sirius, it is a date, not a marriage proposal. Take her to Hogsmade on a date and you see how things go from there."
"Alright Prongs I will." And with that the two fell in silence as they continued to the Great Hall.
O -
It was only later that night that Hermione returned to Gryffindor tower from the library where she spent more and more of her days. Trying to find information on the dark arts, after all, if she was stuck in this time the least she could do was protect the people she loved from here. If she could keep the mauraders united and alive then Harry would not had such a horrible life. He would have his parents. James and Lily would be alive, and Remus would have Solarius. She just wished she had heard something about her in the future. Not knowing about her, meant that she was walking in the dark. She had grown very fond of the two girls in short time and she just hoped that her efforts would be enough in the long run.
Rubbing her sore back she entered the common room, prepared to walk up the long winding stairs to the girls dorm. Only to be stopped in her tracks as a deep smooth voice stopped her from the sitting area.
"Hello Hermione."
To say she was startled was an understatement. There was Sirius greeting her calmly and by her name. She stood there frozen but on guard waiting for him to snap at her again like he usually did. Tentatively she approached him like a shy filly. "Hey."
Taking a deep calming breath Sirius began, "Listen Hermione I want to apologize."
"Apologize for what. If anything I should be thanking you for standing up for me."
"Well your welcome, but I wanted to apologize for my behavior to you. You see I have not been entirely honest with you."
"Oh?"
"Well, you see…I…well…Bollocks why is this so hard. How many times have I done this and now I cant." He muttered the last part so quietly he was sure that the girl did not hear him, but she did, and it caused her heart to race. What was he trying to say?
Taking a final deep breath Sirius stepped closer to Hermione "you see I like you, and I would like to know if you would go out with me this weekend to Hogsmade."
"Is this some sort of prank?"
"No prank I swear on the honour of a maurader."
"But why then. Why have you been so mean then?"
Running his hand through his hair he said in frustration, "I do not know, Hermione, can you call it male madness. Just please won't you give me a chance? If this is a prank then you can do whatever you want to me. I promise." It was clear from the look in Sirius' eyes that he was being genuine, and opening up like this was clearly costing him a lot. It was a look that brought Hermione back to her talk with Remus. If Remus was right then she could only gain something from this. Taking time to ponder over this Hermione finally gave in. After all the poor guy was trying.
"Alright Sirius I will give you a chance."
"Great! This Saturday then. I promise that you will not regret it."
"Well see. Goodnight Sirius."
"Good night sweet lady." Sirius serenaded as he got down on one knee for dramatic affect. It was a gesture that Hermione could not help but laugh at. Perhaps this would work out.