Hermione was down cooking breakfast for the morning when Sirius came into the kitchen. He admired her cute pajamas; they were short shorts and a t-shirt of his. His eyes traced her and he watched how her curvy form was hinted within her large shirt.
"If you are going to stare at me like I am a meal, at least say good morning, Sirius." She declared, but her back was turned the whole time.
Frowning, he rubbed the stubble on his chin. "I don't know if I am going to like this. You shouldn't be aware of me mentally undressing you until I allow it." The male animagus declared and she snorted.
"I just made the playing field even, that's all," she replied and tossed him a smile.
He strolled into the room and leaned against the counter near her. "you aren't as frosty this morning. Moony show you a good time?" Sirius waggled his eyebrows at her, but she caught the hint of jealousy.
"No, he ended up pinning me to the couch and telling me no. He didn't want to break me." She retorted with a smirk.
"That would be Moony. Total twit about you," he chuckled and she sighed.
"You both are. What are you doing up so early?" She asked, clearly changing the subject.
Sirius inhaled deeply and shrugged his shoulders, "did not feel like spending all morning in bed."
"That's a first. Although, you weren't sharing your sheets, so I assume it isn't as appealing." Hermione snickered and Sirius barked out a stream of laughter.
He closed that gap between him and her back, running his chin over her shoulder, "is that an invitation?" He breathed and she smirked as he moved her hair from her neck.
His lips met her skin and she tilted her head to the side, "oh, that is a different approach to acceptance," he whispered and she blushed and turned to him.
"Stop that," she said defensively and continued to finish the preparation for their meal.
He pouted and glared holes into her back, "hey, I just want a kiss good morning, is it that hard to get?"
Hermione plated the food and turned to him with a smirk that made her eyes twinkle in the morning light. "You never just want a kiss, Sirius Black."
Sirius did not mind a challenge usually, but today was not that day. "Oh, I suppose my offer has expired." He said dismissively, wounding her pride.
The wizard went and sat in a chair, pouring himself some tea. Hermione was annoyed by his quick dismissal and set the plates down for herself and him. They were silent and Sirius could taste the tension in the room. She was flustered and he did find it entertaining that he could bristle her swiftly.
"You have work tomorrow?" He asked her simply and she nodded while chewing a bite.
Once she swallowed she answered, "Yes. Those magical creature regulations aren't going to be changed without me..." She trailed off and Sirius smiled.
"I am so glad we could stay..." Sirius sighed and run a hand through his hair with a small blush.
She saw it and could swear there was a heat on the air. "Sirius," she started and he leaned over and kissed her lips gently.
"thank you for caring so much about Moony," he whispered when they parted.
Hermione did not give him a chance to pull away from her. She took his face between her hands and kissed him deeply. It was electric and full of relief and potency. Sirius pulled her from her chair and pushed her against the nearby counter for leverage. He wanted to discover every inch of her mouth, plunder the taste of her.
The witch moaned and ran her fingers over his chest before pulling away from his lips. "I have to give you credit, you are an amazing kisser, Sirius." She panted and he grinned wolfishly.
"I could smell breakfast all the way from up the stairs," Remus declared and entered the room, eyeing the coupling. "Good morning," he said simply and walked by them to grab his plate on the counter.
Sirius slowly backed away from her and sat down next to Remus, in front of his unfinished breakfast. Hermione stood there a moment and watched the silently exchange they both were having. Remus seemed almost indifferent, but his eyes told a different story. Sirius, who she would have thought would have been guilty, held a small frown.
Hermione sat down in front of her plate and sipped her tea, "what is the schedule for today, marauders?" She asked them, demanding their attention.
"We are meeting Harry and Ginny for lunch. Would you like to come?" Remus inquired and Hermione nodded with a smile.
"Sounds harmless enough." She responded and Sirius chuckled.
"Does that mean you are finally done being angry with us?" He voiced with and smile.
Hermione exhaled heavily and nodded, "yes, I am done. I missed you both for too long to stay mad."
They smiled at each other before Remus spoke, "that's a relief. I think the next step we would have had to take is shoving Sirius out the window. He has been driving me bloody insane."
"Can I retract my statement just to watch?" She snickered and Sirius glowered at her.
"You wouldn't want me to hurt my handsome face, I know you enjoy looking at it."
"She might, but I have been having to look at that face long enough." Remus retorted with a grin and Sirius punched his arm.
"Don't be such a bloody wanker, Moony. No one likes a knobhead," he snapped and Hermione giggled.
"I happen to love your pretty face, Sirius. But I don't mind knobs either." Hermione delivered with an indifferent expression and Sirius barked out laughter.
"Seeing as you aren't feline, we need another nickname for you, love." Sirius pondered and Remus sighed.
"Come off it, Pads. It isn't like we need a reminder," the werewolf grumbled and Hermione giggled.
"I bet you are dying to find out what I really am," she murmured and Remus grimaced.
"Actually, love, we are," Sirius declared and finished his plate.
Hermione hid a smile by sipping her tea, "you will have to pry it from me first." She told them and Remus raised an eyebrow.
"A coyote?" Sirius asked and Hermione snorted.
"That is rude, no, I am not a coyote." She snapped and Remus chuckled.
"We know you aren't a wolf." The werewolf declared and she nodded.
"I am not a wolf." She paused and scratched her chin, "maybe I will show you later, you will never guess."
"are you a dog like me?" Sirius waggled his eyebrows and she snorted.
"Not a domesticated animal, I can be positive of that," Remus told Sirius who nodded.
"True," the male animagus agreed and Hermione giggled.
"I am going to get dressed and maybe we can go see them early so I can finish up some plans with Ginny for the wedding." Hermione said and stood up. "Please cleanup for me?" She asked and Remus nodded.
"We will plan to leave here in an hour, how does that sound?" Remus asked and glanced back at Sirius who nodded.
"I wish I could just crawl back into bed with a witch," Sirius grumbled and Hermione rolled her eyes and left the kitchen.
Remus put his chin on the animagus' shoulder, "what if she is a little jackal?" The werewolf breathed and Sirius chuckled and shook his head.
"She wouldn't be teasing us if she wasn't something interesting," Sirius replied and Remus chuckled. "You still alright, Moony?" He asked and the werewolf sighed and pulled away.
"Just pining, never mind me," Remus mumbled and forked some food.
Sirius placed a hand on his shoulder and nodded, "you are alright. We both can get through it."
The Marauders finished up breakfast and cleaned up before heading up to get ready.
0o0o
"So, they are keeping your things hostage until my wedding?" Ginny asked her as they went over the floral arrangements again.
Hermione nodded and grimaced, "this whole thing is insane. Have you ever heard of anything so strange? Pack like behavior and such?"
Ginny giggled and shrugged, "sounds like another day with the marauders to me. They came over plenty when you were ignoring them. It makes sense, you know. I wondered if it was a dog thing or something."
"If what was?" Hermione asked and Ginny frowned.
"You know, the side glances and such. Sometimes they seem to have a whole conversation." Ginny clarified and Hermione gave her a nod.
"Remus was not happy about my animagus form," Hermione murmured and Ginny giggled
"Did you tell them you were a cute dog too?" The red head asked with a bright smile.
"I am not a dog, Ginny..." Hermione growled and Ginny sincerely laughed.
"Close enough. A fluffy-" she was interrupted as the marauders plus one entered the bedroom.
"Ladies, we are in need of attention. You have been in here far too long," Sirius demanded and Remus had his arm on the animagus' shoulder, Harry close behind.
"What now, Sirius?" Hermione asked with a pointed stare.
"We want to go to lunch and take Teddy out for the day," Remus said with a smile and Hermione clapped.
"Oh, that is a splendid plan!" Hermione exclaimed and Ginny got off the bed.
Hermione flourished her wand and placed the pages and notes away in the box next to the bed, "alright, let's go!"
She was practically skipping from the room and Remus swooned a bit, "do you think she even knows?" Remus whispered and Sirius chuckled.
"Not even aware, Moony," Sirius replied and Ginny glared at them.
"Aware of what?" The red head asked.
"That Remus has a big stiff one for her when she acts like that," Sirius retorted and Remus shoved him.
"Hardly," Remus growled and Harry cleared his throat.
"Probably head out before she starts to flick her wand at our feet," Harry murmured; he still wasn't sure how he felt about them fancying her.
"Oh, no, I forgot his stuffed animal," Hermione was heard from the other room and Ginny giggled.
"Alright, I agree, she is pretty cute about your son," Sirius told Remus who nodded.
"Let's go, marauders..." Harry trailed off with a smile and they left for Andromeda's manor.
0o0o
The older witch offered an alternative to taking him out to lunch. She offered to head to the edge of the estate while the weather was still decent and have a picnic. No one disagreed and they all walked the grounds. Hermione had Teddy at first, but offered him to Remus, who took the child gingerly as they walked.
As much as she loved to dote on the boy, she refused to take up the bonding time the father and son should have. Her and Ginny walked together and whispered together and giggled.
"Teddy," Remus asked the boy who was looking back at the yammering witches.
The child gazed at him and touched his face, "ouch," the boy declared running his hands over the scars.
"They don't hurt anymore, it's alright," he replied and the boy smiled. "I bet you are a handful like your mom, I remember stories about her from your uncle. She was always a special woman," the werewolf muttered and the boy giggled.
"Just over that hill, Remus," Andromeda told him as she patted his shoulder.
"Minnie!" Teddy hollered and glared back at her.
Hermione was making faces at Ginny who must have said something distasteful. "Sorry, Teddy, I won't," she giggled and the boy held Remus closer.
Sirius surprised Hermione and picked her up, tossing her over his shoulders. "Come now, you are moving like a banana slug!" He growled and picked up the pace in front of everyone.
She was howling and giggling, "you are deplorable, Sirius Black!"
Teddy squirmed in Remus' arms, "you want to go chase Uncle Sirius and save her?" He asked the boy who lit up.
"Yes!" He exclaimed and Remus put him down and he started to run off after them. "Uncle Sirius, no! Don't hurt Minnie!" Teddy shouted as he was trying to catch up.
They finally got to the hill and spread a couple of blankets out. Remus was snacking on an apple as he watched Harry and Ginny talk to Andromeda about the wedding. Teddy sat beside him and had finished his lunch. Sirius was smoking by a tree and Hermione was sitting next to the toddler and closing her eyes.
"Enjoying the sun?" Remus asked her and she nodded.
"I am, it has been a long while since I just enjoyed sitting outside. In fact, I think I am going to go get our isolated friend." She replied with a bright smile.
Hermione stood up and wiped her hands, walking slowly at first toward the tree, but soon melted into a cute fluffy dog and raced toward the unsuspecting marauder. The creature was making whistling sounds and nipped at the legs of Sirius.
"Oi! What the- Hermione?" Sirius shouted and the dog bound back and bowed, wagging her tail.
"Go, Puppy!" Teddy shouted as he watched Hermione tugging on Sirius.
She took off away from Sirius and whistled, "oh, love, you are on!" Sirius growled and ran after her as the big black dog.
The animals bounded about in a teasing scuffle and she bolted around the hill and he chased her barking. She jumped and dove around the dog, she was smaller, but so much quicker than him. He tackled her after he had quite enough of her teasing and growled while wagging his tail. Hermione got up once he was off of her and rubbed under his neck before prancing around him and whistling.
"She is something called a dhole or other. An Asian breed of wild dog. She bought Teddy a book on them." Andromeda declared as the rest of them were watching.
"She has a pretty color," Harry noted and Ginny nodded.
Hermione was a light brown with darker brown speckles through her fluffy coat and a dark bushy tail. Her underbelly was white and her paws had white encircling her toes. She came striding over and Teddy got up.
"Puppy!" He shouted and walked up to her.
She licked his face and he giggled. Sitting down she let the boy pet her and dote on her. Her circular ears flicked as he yanked a bit too hard on her fur. "Gentle, Teddy," Remus reminded him and he nodded.
"Sorry," he whispered and hugged the fluffy animal.
Sirius bound up next to her and licked her face and barked. "Uncle Puppy!" He shouted and everyone laughed.
Hermione nuzzled the boy and wagged her tail when he let her go. She made a clucking sound and ducked down, wagging her tail. The boy followed her as she pranced through the grass and the child was giggling. Sirius changed back into himself and sat down panting next to Remus. They gave each other a look before chuckling.
"How often does she play with the boy like that?" Sirius asked Andromeda.
"More often these days. I think she enjoys making him laugh like that. She is extremely gentle with him so I have no complaint." Andromeda declared and Harry chuckled.
"Who would have thought Hermione was a dog that whistled," Harry remarked and Ginny sighed.
"She is pretty cute, even cuter than you, Sirius," Ginny declared and Sirius rolled his eyes.
They soon returned and Hermione collapsed next to Remus and glanced up at him. He ran a hand through her fur and chuckled. "This suits you, Hermione." He told her and she cocked her head a bit.
"Don't inflate her ego. She was such a pest." Sirius grumbled and Teddy sat down next to the animal again. "She likes to taunt. I thought you were rude, Moony... she is worse." Sirius complained and Hermione grumbled before standing up and melting back to herself.
"I thought you could use some friendly competition, Sirius," Hermione said with a grin and Teddy clapped.
"Yay, Minnie!" She scooped the boy up and sat down next to Remus.
Ginny sipped her wine glass and pointed, "tell them what happened when you realized you couldn't howl, you whistle."
Hermione groaned, "I was so disappointed! There I was outside the Burrow and Ginny wanted to see me change. So, I changed over and tried howling at the moon only to let out a stream of whistles and growls."
Sirius let out a bark of laughter and shook his head, "I wish I would have been there for that."
"She almost convinced me to become an animagus. If I wasn't so swamped at work I would have." Harry told them and Hermione giggled. "It gave me time to teach her how to play wizard chess better though."
"She looks a lot like a fox," Ginny declared and Hermione snorted.
"Don't tease me like that, Gin," Hermione grumbled.
"Oh! I can start calling you vixen then!" Sirius hollered and she shot him a look.
"No," she told him and he chuckled.
A small house elf popped into view and bowed at Andromeda, "Mrs. Tonks, Mrs. Malfoy is here. She came by for a surprise visit." The small elf declared and Andromeda gasped with a smile.
"Very well, tell her I will meet her in the sitting room," she told her and the elf bowed and disappeared again. "I suppose my sister wants to catch up on the latest events," Andromeda said and stood up.
Sirius pursed his lips and the older witch shook her head, "don't look at me like that Sirius. She has come a long way. Sometimes it takes almost losing a son to realize the wrongs in your life." She declared and the older animagus nodded.
"Would you like us to escort you back?" Remus offered and Andromeda waved him off.
"Finish up your picnic and enjoy. I will see you when you get back." The older witch left after that and Hermione watched her walking toward the manor.
"Bye, Gran!" Teddy waved and Andromeda turned to wave.
"Round two?" Hermione asked Sirius who grinned.
"You are on," he challenged her and ran off turning into the big black dog.
Hermione kissed the boys head and squeezed him closer to his dad, "I will be back. I need to beat up Uncle Puppy." She told the child.
Teddy pouted but watched her run off as her canine self and giggled. "I love Minnie," Teddy sighed.
"Completely, Teddy," Remus murmured and kissed the boy's pink hair.