The remainder of the day passed peacefully. Harry caught Ron and Ginny up with what had happened in defence against the dark arts at dinner in the great hall. Ron chuckled slightly at the tale but was quick to receive a scowl from his little sister. Hermione was nowhere to be found and even when the small group went back to their common room after a second helping of pudding Hermione was still not seen around.
"Hmm wonder where she's been all evening?" Ron asked after a good few hours sitting in the common room. They had been given a fair amount of homework today and they were all wanting to do as much as possible before getting to potions the following day where Snape was bound to give them an essay or five!
"I'm going to go have a wonder," Ginny said laying down her finished ruins essay on the coffee table and standing up.
"How have you finished that?" Ron exclaimed. "How is that possible?"
Harry sat smiling as his girlfriend kissed him on the forehead before exiting through the portrait.
"How did she do it?" Ron said before grabbing up the essay.
Ginny walked her way to the library and opened it to reveal Hermione sitting alone at one of the tables surrounded by books. Sitting herself down opposite the studious witch she cleared her throat indicating her arrival. Hermione jumped slightly and set down a large book on ancient texts. Her face was tear stained and her eyes puffy and red.
"Hermione!" Ginny gasped. "What's wrong?"
"Oh nothing!" Hermione said wearily. Her tone sounded angry when she added, "I'm so stupid!"
"Hermione," Ginny said softly reaching across the table and grabbing her friend's hand. "What's happened? I heard about Defence against the Dark Arts but I don't understand. What's got you in this state?"
"Hermione brushed a stray hair from her face and huffed. "I couldn't help it. I don't know what came over me. Remus was in such a vulnerable place and Sirius was obviously going to respond so I jumped in. I honestly don't know what came over me!"
Ginny smiled kindly to her friends as she wiped the tears from her face. "It's okay Hermione. Anyone could understand that. You've seen enough people get hurt and I'm sure Remus appreciated that. You're one of his favourite students."
"Yeah precisely: his student." Hermione whispered a tone of menace in her voice as she stared at her clasped together hands.
Realization dawned on Ginny. "Student? Hermione do you, do you like Remus?"
"What?" Hermione exclaimed looking up at her friend. "Don't be silly!"
Ginny could sense the denial but chose not to state it. "Uhu well if that's what you're telling yourself Hermione," Ginny replied, a coy smile playing on her lips.
Hermione scoffed but picked up her book and dove back into it again. Ginny was unsure whether she was genuinely studying or attempting to hide her blushing face. Whatever the reason she soon took it as a cue to leave. Skipping off smiling Ginny threw a "Bye 'Mione!" over her shoulder and left the library happy with her new knowledge.
oOo
"How can you already have so much work to grade Mooney?" Sirius asked swinging around on the chair opposite Remus' desk and placing his feet onto the work surface.
Remus eyed the new addition to his desktop but didn't say anything on it. What was the point? It was Sirius. "It is school Sirius; they have to have work in order to improve. That's why I'm marking it. We got some every so often remember?"
Sirius laughed, "No I remember you got work to do. It never seemed to pass my way." Remus laughed along knowing full well his friend did as much as he could to avoid any extra work when they were at school.
"Maybe if you'd paid enough attention at school and done the extra work Padfoot you would know the dangers of duelling with violent spells," Remus said sternly quirking an eyebrow as he marked an especially hard to read 3rd years class work.
"Oh you're not still going on about that are you?" Sirius moaned kicking his feet off the desk and leaning forward placing his head on the desk.
"Sirius you could have killed me if your aim was any higher! Off with my head, maybe an arm, who knows!" Remus said exasperated.
"Remus, whatever happened it would only have been an improvement," he replied looking up into the werewolf's eyes. The scowl he received back though soon wiped the smirk off his face. "Okay, okay. Look I'm sorry. I don't really know what was going through my head." Sighing Sirius ran a hand through his hair, a characteristic he and Remus had gained after watching their friend James do it on an hourly basis.
Remus laid down the quill and looked his friend hard in the face. "It was dangerous. I'm glad Hermione stepped in."
"Oh please! You would have stopped me Remus!" Sirius said, his voice harsher than normal. "I still don't understand why the witch jumped in."
"Maybe she likes you," Remus said musing his own thoughts aloud. The hope in his voice surprised him and he looked back on the possibility. Her strong urge to defend him, the numerous times they had spoken together at the Burrow all added up to the idea that she could possibly like him. Was that true? Could she like him? And with his own distinctive appreciation for her defending him earlier was it possible he liked her to? The witch who stole his dreams? I suppose it made slight sense.
"Hrmm... I guess that's possible" Sirius stated breaking his friends chain of thought. "She does always flirt with me. Completely not encouraged by the way." He added with a wink. "Maybe she does have a little crush on me. She must have realised you would fire a spell back at me and possibly injure me. Little minx was protecting me."
Remus struggled not to retort. What could he say? No. She likes me more? Sighing he smiled at his friend. "I guess it's possible."
Sirius laughed. "Well I'd be a fool to let the opportunity slide. I mean have you seen her Mooney? She's sensational! Those legs, those curves! All woman!"
"Yes! Yes Padfoot! You can stop. I know!" Remus said quickly almost tempted to cover his ears. He had heard Sirius speak of plenty woman like this before and never batted an eyelid. Why did it bother him so much when he spoke of her?
Changing the subject Remus asked the question which he had been briefly thinking about when Sirius first came into the classroom hours earlier. "Why aren't you doing your job?" Remus looked up in time to see Sirius' face darken. The playful features which were once on his face had hardened out creating an intimidating sight. Remus looked surprised, his casual question had made the air between them turn tense. "Sirius?"
"Ha," Sirius laughed suddenly. His mood and face brightening within a second. "Its fine, Tonks, Fred and George are doing their work tonight. I'm sure I can slip off to see my friend for a while."
"Always the hard worker," Remus chuckled, hiding the frustration he felt from Sirius' sudden withdrawal. There was something his friend wasn't telling him.
Something he had to find out.
oOo
A long time later later and Sirius was making his way back to his room. Walking down one of the long darkened corridors he whistled softly to himself happy he had done his job well that night. Turning the corner a solid figure came walking into him making them both stagger back from each other. Whoever had walked straight into him had definitely dropped things as the loud thump of various objects hit the floor sounded.
"What the hell!" Sirius said gathering his bearings and pulling out his wand. "Lumos," he commanded to get a better look at the person in front of him. "Hermione?"
"Ergh, oh sorry Sirius!" Hermione gasped bending down to pick up her books that had fallen. "I couldn't see too well, I'm really sorry!"
"It-it's fine honestly," Sirius replied also crouching down to help. "Why are you wandering around at this time anyway?"
"I was in the library, just lost track of time I guess," she said honestly whilst standing up with him. Hermione wasn't usually one for breaking the school rules (obviously with significant circumstances being excluded – usually like life threatening ones) but tonight her mind had lost its way when she was secluded and all alone in the library.
"What? No pranks? No trouble? I'm disappointed Miss Granger. Almost disappointed enough to deduct house points," Sirius said mock scolding.
"Very sorry Mr Black, it won't happen again," she replied playing along. Giving over to a smile she ran her free hand through her hair glad that Sirius was still holding some of her books, they did make her arms tired carrying them all. "So why are you out late? Is this part of the secret job?"
"Ah well if I told you I'd have to kill you," Sirius laughed. "I'm kidding of course. I was just tucking Remus into bed."
Hermione laughed knowing the second statement was the most believable thing he had said all night, "well that's sweet."
"Very," Sirius said. "Here I'll carry some of these to help you back to your room. Can't have you walking about unattended."
"Very noble Sirius," Hermione giggled as they walked down the corridor together. "And how is Remus?" she inquired, hiding the interest in the voice.
"Oh he's fine, once I read him a story and got him a squeaky toy he settled peacefully."
Hermione couldn't contain her laugh as she imagined the scene in her head. The big tough werewolf she had grown ever so fond of being wrapped up like a baby.
Sirius smiled showing his full set of pearly white teeth. He had never found himself interested in Hermione before. Of course he appreciated her beauty, but the idea of having to have lengthy intelligent conversations with her scared him slightly. "I really am surprised you're not breaking a few more school rules. I don't know, perhaps sneaking around with a clever Ravenclaw boy?"
Hermione blushed but didn't reply. Sirius took her silence to push the matter, "ooooh got an eye on someone have we?"
"N-n-no!" she stuttered turning ever redder. The tip of Sirius' wand waved over her face slightly as he chuckled deeply at the deep crimson shade on her cheeks.
They remained in silence until reaching the prefect room door. "Thank you Sirius," she smiled as he placed the books he had carried onto the pile she had already gathered.
"Any time Kitten," he replied quietly. They stared at each other for quite some time, Hermione debating the idea whether to go into her room and just close the door on his face or not. Before she could make any form of a decision he leaned down and planted a soft kiss on her cheek. "Goodnight 'Mione."
Unsure of how to react Hermione watched, eyes open wide, as Sirius turned and walked away slowly drifting into the darkness. An unusual event to say the least.
Sirius walked confidently back to his room, a broad smile etched onto his face with only one arrogant thought in his mind, "She wants me."