Hermione smiled happily, snuggling further back into her seat at the long half-booth that they had taken up at the Three Broomsticks. It was her twenty-first birthday, and all of the professors had taken it upon themselves to throw her a little surprise party. They had even invited Harry and Ron, along with the rest of the Weasleys. Food and drink had been donated by Rosmerta, who had truly outdone herself on the cake - a massive, three tier, bourbon-laced monstrosity that Molly Weasley herself would be proud of.

She couldn't be happier; she hadn't expected anything like this when she originally set out after dinner. They had made up the most ridiculous excuse to get her to trek down to Hogsmeade - an urgent need to restock their chalk supply - and Hermione had drawn the short straw, so to speak (she now realized that she had been set up). She had dutifully made the long, blustery walk into town, completely oblivious to the fact that Headmistress McGonagall was leading the others through the tunnel behind the portrait of Arianna Dumbledore located in the Room of Requirement and into the Hog's Head in order to beat her there. They'd all surrounded her as she made her way down the main street, scaring the shite out of her when they began singing "For She's a Jolly Good Fellow" raucously as they literally dragged her off to the pub, earning indulgent smiles from passerby as they went. Hermione had become a favorite of the townspeople in the month's time she'd been there, and a few followed the crowd down to the bar to join in on the fun.

It seemed everyone was there celebrating with her, aside from those poor professors that had patrol or detention duties. Despite her missing colleagues, Hermione was having the best time, laughing and relaxing with her friends - both new, and those she considered family. The remaining D.A. members had gathered back together, and Neville was swapping stories with Terry Boot and the Patil twins; Hagrid was sitting in a corner with Horace, being lead by Minerva in singing some sort of old, Scottish drinking song; and Harry, Ginny, and Ron were discussing Quidditch league scores and new maneuvers with an intensely focused Madam Hooch, who was clearly picking up tips to pass on to her team captains.

A sudden blast of chill air rushed through the pub as the door was thrown open, revealing a dark silhouette that quickly entered the waiting warmth of the pub, pulling the door to behind itself as the wavering light from the gas lamps revealed it to be none other than - "Sirius! You came!" Harry called, bounding up to his godfather and embracing him in a manly hug, clapping him solidly on the back. Hermione's eyes widened comically above the rim of her tankard, and she choked down the gulp of butterbeer she had been swilling back when he had revealed himself. She didn't know why, but she had assumed he wouldn't be there. It was likely, she mused, because Remus and Tonks weren't there themselves, due to work commitments. She would have to be a bit more vigilant in the future to inform others just who was allowed to her parties - surprise or no. This was certainly on the surprise end of the spectrum...

As Sirius and Harry stepped forward, another figure was revealed, slowing hanging up her coat. When she was finished she entered the pub proper and sidled up to Sirius, putting a hand on his arm. She was pretty, but obviously older than Sirius. Hermione couldn't help the pang of hurt that struck through her heart like lightening. He didn't have to go get himself an older woman to show her that their little tryst had been only a one time thing; she had just assumed - after all, he was Harry's godfather, and 19 years older than herself. It was why she'd been avoiding him; she really didn't want him to spell it out for her. But this? This was too far.

Hermione choked down the last of her firewhisky and pushed back from the table, rising to her feet before she began slowly making her way towards the exit, accepting birthday wishes from friends and colleagues as she went. All the while she was holding back tears.

"Hermione!"

She spun around, her hair whipping out around her like a curly Devil's Snare as she turned to face her best friend and the one person she didn't want to see.

"Where are you going, 'Mione? Sirius just got here, and the night's still young." Harry said, his brow furrowed as he looked between his almost-father and his best friend.

"Happy birthday, kitten." Sirius murmured, stepping forward to her to press a kiss to her cheek, which was sweeter than usual, but instantly negated by the presence of the woman behind him.

"I'm just tired, Harry. I didn't sleep well last night, and I've still got papers to grade back at the castle, so I'm just going to head back." She clenched her jaw unconsciously, trying to stave off her tears for a moment more. The action may have gone unnoticed by everyone else, but Harry saw it.

"But I have a surprise for you, kitten." Sirius said, reaching behind him for something.

"And I appreciate that, Sirius, but I really need to go." she interrupted, pushing her way past so she could grab her coat and hat before rushing out into the night.

Harry whirled on his godfather. "What did you do? Why was she so upset?"

Sirius blanched, and tried to throw his godson off the scent, "Who?"

"What do you mean, 'who?' Are you seeing multiple birds?" Harry angrily eyed the woman standing off to the side, who was watching the whole display warily.

"What?!" Sirius was struck dumb at that. He wasn't technically seeing anyone, and what's more, he had no idea how Harry knew about him and Hermione at all. Unless… Moony.

Oh, bugger.

OxOxOxOxO

Hermione angrily pulled on her coat, hat, and mittens as she walked. She couldn't believe his nerve, showing up to her party with another woman in tow. Sure, they weren't exclusive or anything, or anything at all, but she had thought he respected her more than that. At least enough to not bring another woman to her surprise birthday party!

She huffed, stomping her way back towards the castle. She really did have papers to grade waiting for her, but she was in no mood to work on that right now. If she did, she knew she would be hypercritical and probably end up failing everyone, even the little first years.

It was as she was passing through the gates of the school that she became aware of the sound of another set of footsteps crunching in the leaves behind her. She spun around, her wand leveled at her pursuer.

"Woah, easy, there," Sirius said, hands raised in surrender, "I'm not going to hurt you. I just wanted to talk. You left before I could say anything, and walk surprisingly fast for having such tiny legs."

Hermione turned back towards the castle and put her wand away, setting a brisk pace, which, if he was going to insist on talking to her, he was going to have to match.

"Hey, wait," he called, jogging up beside her and turning around to walk backwards so he could face her as he spoke. "Why are you upset with me? I'm not the one who's been avoiding me for the past month."

Hermione's eyes blazed as she glared over at him. "I'm not the one who brought another, much older witch to my birthday party." she snapped.

Sirius frowned, a thoughtful expression on his face for a moment before he threw his head back and started chuckling.

"What are you laughing at?" Hermione exploded, shoving him hard in the shoulder. Sirius struggled to maintain his balance, his arms and legs working erratically to keep him up. He tipped over anyway, his grin falling as well as his body hit the ground in a puff of dry leaves.

"Why'd you push me, witch?" He demanded, working to stand, brushing off dirt from his arse.

"Because you laughed at me!"

Sirius shook his head, his ebony hair whipping about as he attempted to dislodge the debris that had become trapped within the mass. "Of course I laughed at you. What you said was funny." He stated simply as he began to finger comb the stubborn leaves out, a bemused frown appearing when he plucked a twig from his mane.

Hermione scowled thunderously. "How is what I said the least bit funny, Sirius Black?! You show up at my surprise birthday party with another witch in tow after we had sex - admittedly just the once - and act like it's nothing! And you laugh at me!" She could feel the tears threatening again, and while it hurt to hold them back, she refused to cry in front of a bastard like Sirius.

That vexatious grin tried to break out over his face again, but she could tell this time he was fighting it, if only for the sake of her pride. "I laughed because you think I came with Miranda to the party. As an item. I didn't. She was your surprise: Miranda Goshawk. Of The Standard Book of Spells fame? I know you know of her, as you're getting your mastery in Charms on the side of teaching," Hermione gaped at him as he continued, "I figured it would be a nice birthday present to have her there so you could pick her brain, maybe strike up an owl correspondence… But then you stormed out."

Horror washed over Hermione as she realized just how far she'd jumped to conclusions.

"I just brushed off Miranda Goshawk! Oh my God, I'm so embarrassed!" She cried, her eyes wide as she covered her mouth with a mittened hand.

Sirius chortled at her expression. "Speaking of, she's still back there, waiting, if you still would like to talk with her. I set her up with a Gillywater before I left, and she seemed quite comfortable talking with Filius. At least I assumed so, as they were talking rather animatedly."

Hermione's brain began to kick in again, despite her mortification. "Wait, how did you know I'm going for my mastery in Charms? I've only told a handful of people, and most of them are colleagues."

Sirius' smile slid off his face momentarily before he tried to shrug it off. "I just heard it around. I think Harry mentioned it to Molly last Weasley dinner. Either way, I decided it would be as good a time as any to call in a favor or two."

Hermione narrowed her eyes at him but decided to say nothing. She hadn't told Harry or any of the Weasleys for fear they would tell her she was taking on too much, and the only people who knew were teachers - both past and present. Sirius hadn't been around any of her colleagues, so that left only one: Moony.

Author's Note:

I'm so sorry that took so long to get up! The holidays have been crazy for me, as my family has almost all our birthdays in that time as well, including my own. I had planned on posting this chapter on my birthday, and then I planned on posting it on Christmas, but neither happened. Instead, I played with my kids, hung out with friends, and spent time with my husband while he was off work.

pgoodrichboggs was reviewer number 100! Crazy! Thanks for all the love, guys!

Chapter 11 is already in the works, and will be up soon.

Betalove to CaptainHoodie and Ariel Riddle! Thanks also to MissandMarauder and justcourbeau who put aside time to beta for me, but my impatience beat them out. Any mistakes in the second half of the chapter are entirely me. lol

Today is my middle girl's 4th birthday, which is insane to me. Happy birthday, Dagny!

Also, HAPPY NEW YEAR! May 2017 be better than the year that shall not be named, and may our icons stay breathing!

Oh! And an amazing story I stumbled across recently, Reading Between the Lines by LadyTartan. Go check it out and give her some love!