Even though it was after curfew, Hermione wandered around the seventh floor corridor until quarter to eleven, when she was meant to meet Sirius. She fiddled with the hem of her skirt, unable to believe that she was waiting for him to show up so that he could snog her. He would probably unintentionally give her the best kiss of her entire life, which would be just her luck. She also couldn't believe that she was about to willingly get detention! That would be one to tell Harry and Ron, she thought with a groan. No matter, it was just one night and then she could go back to being anonymous to the people of this time.
She was sure that Sirius would have no trouble forgetting her after their little tryst. After all, that was kind of what she was counting on him to do. From all the stories he'd told over the years, he'd never had a serious girlfriend, instead leaving behind him a line of disappointed, albeit satisfied, witches. She could count on Sirius to have a good time, but also to leave her alone after he got what he wanted.
Merlin, if only Harry knew what she was going for him, just to get his parents together! She longed for a time, back in her own future, when they would all laugh about this and Hermione could tell them about the unbearable sacrifices she'd made. Though, truthfully, it didn't seem all that unbearable in the moment...she was secretly, anxiously anticipating it.
After waiting a sufficiently long time - really, it felt like ages - Sirius had finally shown up, looking casual and like this wasn't going to affect him at all. It probably wouldn't affect him, Hermione thought darkly. This was a wizard who was constantly whisking girls off to dark alcoves for passionate snogs and no attachments.
He was bloody gorgeous, Hermione thought, looking at him in the dim light. His hair was touchably soft, a bit long, with perfect waves. His nose was straight and perfect for his face. His lips looked kissable and parted easily in a smile to reveal white teeth that were just imperfect enough to make him look distinguished, while not being crooked. And his eyes! His eyes were a mercurial grey, captivating and staring at her, making her blush. Honestly, she knew the Black family had a lot of good looking members, but it was a little ridiculous.
"Miss Granger," he greeted her with a lazy smile. "Funny running into you here." His voice was similar to how it was in the future, though it lacked a certain gravelly quality. It was smooth and deep and hinted at dark promises.
Hermione took a deep breath to calm her nerves. She wanted to seem composed and cool - like this wasn't a big deal to her either. "Thank you for meeting me," she said, biting her lower lip. "Shall we - Sirius-"
He cut her off unexpectedly, pressing a finger to her lips. "Hush. Just let me take care of this, kitten," he told her. His finger traced her lower lip, teasing.
Her eyes light up in surprise at his boldness. Godric, he was so tall, Hermione thought. Why did he have to be so tall? Or maybe, why did she have to be so short?
Sirius pressed his hands to her shoulders, walking her backwards until her shoulder blades were up against the stone wall. She was surrounded by him and took note of how good he smelled - like parchment in leather bound books, the grass on the Quidditch pitch, and something spicy and masculate and- Sirius!
His hand brushed her cheek and pushed her hair from her eyes. Hermione could feel her heart pounding so hard against her ribcage, she was almost certain that he could feel it too. And then, he dipped his head towards hers. Merlin, this was it! It was actually happening!
Hermione momentarily forgot to breathe when he pressed his lips to hers. Godric, they were softer than they looked. She tried not to be too embarrassed about her own slightly chapped lips. They fit together perfectly, as if they were two corresponding puzzle pieces, slanted together. And then, Sirius was pulling back, separating, so that Hermione could catch her breath. She stared into his eyes, which looked like liquid silver instead of their usual grey. Hermione wanted to stare into them for hours.
For once, he didn't have that arrogant smirk on his face, but he actually looked pleasant, like he'd thoroughly enjoyed their first tentative kiss. He was happy to take the lead, delving his fingers into her curly hair and pressing his body against hers until they were completely flush with one another. Their lips connected again, and Hermione immediately sighed into the kiss, letting herself get lost in the moment and not worry about what he thought when she wrapped her arms around him.
To her surprise, he rewarded the action with a masculine groan, which only made her pull him closer.
His tongue found the seam of her lips and she opened herself to him. He immediately invaded her mouth, tangling with her own tongue. Neither of them was willing to relinquish control of the kiss, so they engaged in a passionate back and forth with one another, equal parts teasing and addictive. He tasted like spearmint toothpaste. Her mind was going a bit dizzy, trying to catalog each and every delicious sensation.
Soon, though, he broke the kiss again - this time to catch his own breath. He wasn't done with her though. He rubbed his nose against hers affectionately, before dipping his head to the place just below her ear so that he could pepper kisses down the pale column of her neck. When he found her pulse, he sucked at the skin, eager to leave his mark on her. Hearing her quiet moans in his ear and feeling her tiny hands clutching at his back was enough to make Sirius feel like he was on top of the world. Slowly, he used his free hand to slide down to the bare stretch of skin between her knee and skirt hem.
He couldn't wait another second to kiss her again. More than that, he needed to be closer to her. Releasing her curls, he brought his hands under her skirt, gripping her arse. And what a nice arse it was. Sirius longed to know what sort of knickers she was wearing, but first, he lifted her as if she were lighter than air, before settling in between her open legs.
"Sirius!" she squealed - something she was certain she would be horribly embarrassed about later - but quickly forgot all her complaints when she realized what that hard length was pressed against her. He swallowed any lingering complaints by kissing her again, this time nibbling on her lower lip. She couldn't help but moan into him. He pressed himself against her, the little bit of friction making her center clench in longing. How was it possible that someone as plain and swotty as she was had this effect on him? And how was she so quickly reduced to such base desires? All she could focus on was that hot, molten sensation that had settled into the very pit of her stomach. Oh, she was mortified and eager at the same time. She was so absorbed in what Sirius was doing to her body that she was sure Harry himself could come up to her and pinch her and she wouldn't even notice.
"Sirius?" a surprised voice called from the hallway.
Ugh, they knew that voice - the voice that could only belong to Sirius's newly responsible, besotted-since-first-year, best friend, Prongs. Damn James and his timing! They were only just getting to the good part.
Sighing, Sirius set Hermione back down on her own two feet, before throwing her a smirk when he saw that she was a little weak in the knees. Her skirt was disheveled and her lips were red and swollen. Merlin, her hair was about twice its typical size! Yes, she looked well and thoroughly snogged.
"Fraternizing after curfew, Hermione?" James asked, looking at them, torn somewhere between grateful and annoyed. He didn't really care to walk in on Sirius, but he was glad that he could finally show Lily that he was responsible. Sirius wouldn't get special treatment just because they were best friends. He didn't know that their plan would involve this, though, and it caught him off guard. He liked Hermione as a friend, and even if they hadn't known each other long, he didn't want her getting hurt. "Well, that's ten points from Gryffindor. For each of you, as much as it pains me to take them."
Sirius looked to Lily. She seemed surprised, but not nearly surprised enough at James's new found responsibility. He needed to push it a little further. "Come on, James...can't you give your old friend the benefit of the doubt? We just got caught up and lost track of time," he said, intentionally playing up the favoritism he was sure that Lily mentally accused James of.
James's eyes narrowed and him. "No, I cannot give you the benefit of the doubt!" he said with a frown. "But I can give you detention. With Filch."
Then, Lily looked very impressed with his newly taller friend. The look of awe on the redhead's face was something he was sure he'd hear James talk about when he tucked his little stag self into bed for an ungodly long amount of time. Instead of listening, though, Sirius would be daydreaming about Hermione's legs wrapped around his body and her arse in his hands.
"Fine," Sirius whined. "Come on, Hermione. I'll walk you back to the Common Room." He tucked her tiny hand into his larger one. It was odd - she was so small, but he liked feeling like a big, strong man when she was tucked under his arm. They took the short walk back to the Common Room in silence and before she could scurry up to the girls' dormitory, he pulled her close to him one last time so he could give her one lingering kiss.
She sighed into him again, before remembering that they had already accomplished their task, and pulled away. She gave him a small, sad sort of smile and then turned around and sprinted up the stairs to the safety of her bed.
Meanwhile, James and Lily were finishing the end of their rounds. "I-I am really impressed with how you handled the situation with Sirius, Potter," she said quietly. Every so often, his arm would touch hers and it would make her blush at how close she gravitated to him. "I know it isn't easy to discipline your friends."
"Yeah..." James said, running his hand through his messy black hair. "I can't believe he's already up to his old tricks the first week of school."
Lily bit her lip. She knew it wasn't really her business, but she couldn't help but feel sorry for James. To have the girl you like snog your very best friend like that...well, she was sure James was annoyed and heartbroken. "I am sorry he did that to you. Isn't that against like...guy code or something?" she asked.
"What? Snog someone in front of me?" James asked with a laugh. He'd seen much worse.
"No, snog the girl that you like," Lily said, her voice taking on a darker quality.
James found it quite hot to think that his Lily flower might be jealous? He laughed. "I don't like Hermione like that, Lily," he told her seriously, without any hint of deception in his voice. "There is only one witch for me and she is standing right next to me. Say you'll go to Hogsmeade with me?"
Lily was oddly relieved when James told her honestly that he didn't like Hermione. And, Hermione certainly seemed very interested in Sirius Black. She could now admit that she was attracted to James Potter on a physical level, but she was seeing him in a new light, too. Maybe he was growing up, becoming more responsible. If he didn't give Sirius detention for snogging the girl he liked, then that meant he was just punishing his best friend for breaking the rules, with no ulterior motives. It was difficult to believe.
Deciding that she would unpack these feelings later, preferably when she was alone and not when her body was in constant contact with the tall Chaser, she knew she had to give him an answer. "In your dreams, Potter," she said, smartly.
James gave her a cheeky grin in return. "Are you giving me permission to dream about you?" he asked.
Lily rolled her eyes at him, but couldn't fight off the smile that formed on her face.