Hermione turned at the sound of footsteps behind her. It was Sirius, he rubbed a hand through his hair and walked over to sit beside her. She raised a brow and he shrugged "Couldn't sleep." he said as an explanation. Hermione nodded and he sat down in the chair beside her.
He knew he should be sleeping, but Sirius always found it harder to sleep knowing she was up, alone, watching out for them. So here he was, once again, sitting up with her. They sat in comfortable silence for awhile before she got the chess board out. He smiled, he loved this game, and he loved playing it with her. She was one of few who could actually beat him at it.
Hermione set the pieces up, then she looked up at the man sitting across the board from her. This man that she was completely and stupidly in love with, and she had to know the truth about something "Are you scared?"
Sirius almost missed the softly spoken words. He looked into her eyes and saw her fear staring bck at him, and he nodded "Yes, I am. Everyday." Hermione looked a little surprised, and he wasn't sure if it was from his honesty, or if she really had not thought he would be afraid. Finally she nodded "Ok." she said, as she reached for her first piece, and the game began.
...
It was a few days later when Harry sat down beside Sirius and asked him how Hermione was doing. Sirius looked at his Godson and shrugged "She's doing fine I think, what about you? How are you doing?"
Harry was quite for a moment "I'm scared, I don't know what's going to happen to any of us, and I don't know if Ron made it back home alright, and I'm mad because he left us, and I'm still worried about him." Harry looked into the silver/blue eyes of the man next to him "Are you sure she's alright?"
Sirius nodded, but frowned as he did so "Why are you asking me? You're with her just as much as I am." Harry shrugged "Hermione is one of my best friends, well after Ron took off on us, she might be my only best friend, but I have a feeling that you're her best friend." Sirius looked surprised and Harry smirked "I bet you never thought you would see the day that the smartest girl you know would be you best mate did you?"
Sirius shook his head and chuckled "No, never thought I'd see the day." Harry stood then "I'm going to go and see about catching some fish, I won't be long." Sirius nodded, lost in his own thoughts. She thought of him as her best friend? He felt a surprising sense of pride and he smiled to himself. If that were true, he would do what he could to deserve the title.