CHAPTER 6

It was late Sunday night, and James and Sirius were scribbling furiously on a roll of parchment. Not only had they failed to complete their History of Magic essay, their opinion on which was the bloodiest of all the Goblin rebellions they had studied, but they had Transfiguration homework looming as well.

"Oh, you two!" Hermione admonished, watching them glance over each other's shoulders as they wrote.

"We know, you finished ages ago," James said, flipping the pages of his History of Magic book.

Sirius had gotten down to nearly the end of his History of Magic essay, but he was exhausted and didn't know if he had the energy to continue. He sat back in his chair and stretched his arms, looking dejectedly at the roll of parchment in front of him.

"Oh, just hand it here," said Hermione quickly. "I'll look over it."

"Hermione, you're a lifesaver," Sirius said, tossing the essay her way and rubbing his eyes.

"Not the first time I've heard that," she muttered, and Sirius chuckled.

He looked at his Transfiguration book with disdain, unwilling to begin on the homework that was also due the next day.

"That won't take long," she said as she went through his History of Magic essay. "I finished it in less than a half hour. You'll find everything you need on page forty-seven."

"Thanks," Sirius said.

James pushed his History of Magic essay away from him and pulled out his Transfiguration book as well.

"Forty-seven, you said?" he said.

"Yes," she replied, exasperated. "Hand me your history essay, James."

"Ahhh, thanks a million," he said.

The two boys began work on their Transfiguration homework while Hermione corrected their essays, often muttering things like, "where you got the idea that Marcus the Meddling was a real Goblin, I'm just not sure." They had gotten quite used to Hermione over the past few weeks of having her around. Sirius could never help himself smiling when he watched her look over his work, as she was constantly having to pull her curly hair out of her face and tuck it behind her ear. He completed the Transfiguration homework in record time and stood and stretched, walking behind her as she angrily pulled her hair out of her eyes again. Taking a deep breath to build up a bit of courage, he took her wild curls in his hands and pulled them back out of her face, letting his hands graze the side of her neck softly.

"That better, love?" he asked, and he saw Hermione freeze nervously.

"Much, thanks," she replied, relaxing a bit as he held her hair from her face.

He heard a low whistle from James and glared at him. He watched Hermione scratch through the last bit of his essay and changed it before setting her quill down.

"Finished," she said. "Now, I'd say you should promise me you'll never leave an essay so late again-"

"-but you wouldn't want to make us lie," James said with a grin, putting the finished touches on his essay as Hermione laughed.

"Well, I'm going up," she said.

Sirius reluctantly let her soft hair fall from his hands. While it looked very wild and frizzy from a distance, it felt soft as silk underneath his fingertips. Hermione stood from her chair, giving him a nervous glance and a small smile as she did. Sirius returned her smile with a grin of his own. She turned and left, bouncing up the stairs to her dormitory, and he stared after her, a vacant smile on his face.

"Why don't you just admit it?" James said.

"Admit what?" replied Sirius defensively, his smile disappearing.

"That's you're completely mad about her," he said, rolling his eyes. "It's obvious."

"I am not!" he said.

He immediately stood and marched upstairs to his room. Up in the dormitory, Remus was laying on the bed, exhausted. The full moon was coming again the following night. Sirius sat down on the bed next to him.

"You are too," Remus said softly.

"Curse your werewolf ears," said Sirius with a smirk.

He knew his friends were right about Hermione, and he wasn't even sure why he was denying it so vehemently. He'd never cared before when they'd teased him about a girl he'd been dating, and there had been quite a few. Why was he feeling so defensive about Hermione? What it because (and at this thought, he felt a mix of panic and excitement in his chest) he actually liked her? He stretched out on Remus's bed, staring up at his canopy.

"Why don't you just tell her? You've never been shy before," Remus said, rolling over on his side to look at Sirius.

"I don't know, this one's different. Haven't you noticed something a bit odd about her?" Sirius asked.

"I have," Remus replied.

"What do you think it is?" he continued.

"Don't know. Can't quite figure it out," said Remus.

Remus was looking at Sirius with an expectant expression.

"So?" he prodded.

"Hogsmeade weekend's not far off. I'll ask her to go with me," said Sirius, yawning and rolling off Remus's bed to collapse into his own.

"Promise?" asked Remus.

"Promise," grunted Sirius.

"There's the Sirius Black I know," Remus replied.

(())

The next morning, while Hermione was in Charms with Lily, Dumbledore called her out of class. She stood and walked toward the classroom door, and she suddenly realized that she was panicked that Dumbledore might have found a way to send her back already. She wasn't even sure why. If Dumbledore had been able to find some way to get her back to her own time, she should be thrilled. But she wasn't. She didn't want to leave just yet. She didn't want to leave until. . . Sirius. Hermione remembered the way his fingers had felt in her hair the night before, holding her curls out of her eyes while she worked. She remembered the swooping sensation in her stomach when he grazed her neck. She wanted nothing more than to lean into his touch… to feel him against her…

Hermione shook her head and headed toward Dumbledore's office. Maybe it would be best if she left. Maybe she shouldn't get any further into trouble with Sirius. It was too dangerous for their future.

"Miss Granger," Dumbledore said, greeting her warmly. "Please have a seat."

She obeyed and sat quietly, waiting for him to speak.

"I trust you've enjoyed yourself in this time period," Dumbledore continued.

Hermione simply nodded quietly. She was sad, sad that she was going to have to leave her new friends, even though she was looking forward to seeing her old ones.

"Unfortunately," Dumbledore continued, "you are going to have to stay here a bit longer."

Hermione let out a deep sigh of relief and smiled happily. Dumbledore chuckled.

"I didn't think you'd be so thrilled," he said smiling, a twinkle in his eye.

"I just … I haven't had a chance to really get to know my new friends," Hermione replied, staring at her lap.

"Very well," Dumbledore said. "Please let me know if you need anything. I will keep you informed on my progress in finding a way to send you back."

Hermione stood up and nodded. She walked slowly toward the door to his office, but just as she reached out to grab its handle, she turned back.

"Professor Dumbledore," she said in a voice barely above a whisper, and he nodded for her to continue. "There's really nothing I can do to save them?"

Dumbledore closed his eyes, a pained expression on his face. He took a deep breath and shook his head, opening his eyes again to look at her. She gave a quick, resolute nod and trotted down the spiral staircase. She hadn't realized how much she was enjoying herself in Harry's parents' time, and knowing so much about James, Lily, Sirius, and Remus made it seem so much more unfair. Before, James and Lily Potter were just names in a book, faces in a photograph. Now they were real. And Sirius… Hermione ran all the way to Transfiguration, plopping down in her seat in front of Sirius and next to Peter.

"Late, Miss Granger?" whispered Sirius behind her.

She turned and glared half-heartedly at him, making him smile and wink at her. She snapped around to face the front of the room, trying desperately to conceal her confused emotions. Sirius did not deserve his future, and she felt impotent and powerless that she could do nothing to prevent it.

When Remus wasn't at lunch or in History of Magic, Hermione immediately deduced that the full moon had returned. It was hard to believe that she had been in the past for that long. After dinner in the Common Room, she was distracted thinking about him. She hated to imagine that someone of whom she was so very fond, a man who was quiet and kind even through adulthood, was forced to endure something so vile each month. Hermione had loved getting close to the younger Remus as well. He had a quiet calmness about him that contrasted with James and Sirius. On more than one evening, she had found herself next to him in front of the fire, poring over a textbook as they worked on an essay. Sirius always found his way over to the pair of them, elbowing in between them with a laugh. Tonight, however, Remus was missing again, and she was sitting in front of the fire alone.

Suddenly, Sirius plopped down next to her, jolting her from her thoughts and making her jump in surprise.

"Sorry, love, you looked distraught," Sirius said.

"Oh, I'm alright," said Hermione, forcing a smile.

"Are you certain? You've been a little off today," he asked, and she nodded at him warmly.

That night she slept poorly. She kept thinking she heard a howl outside her window, only to jump up to look and see nothing. She gazed out on the grounds, looking for a dog, a stag, or a werewolf, but never once saw anything. Perhaps they were staying in the Shrieking Shack tonight. Her eyelids finally began to feel heavy and droop shut. The next thing she knew, it was morning, and Lily and Amanda were chirping merrily about what a lovely day it was.

(())

As usual, Sirius found it extremely difficult to wake up the morning after the full moon. Remus had behaved particularly wolf-like the night before, and the three of them had a difficult enough time just getting him to settle himself. Sirius had been afraid that, for the first time ever, he might have to subdue his friend by force, but they were able to calm him. They didn't dare risk leaving the Shrieking Shack with Remus acting so wild. Sirius pulled himself out of bed and rubbed his eyes, stumbling down to the Great Hall for breakfast before Defence Against the Dark Arts.

"Rough night?" Hermione asked, a concerned look on her face as he slid in next to her.

"Just didn't sleep well is all," he replied, ignoring the dark looks from James and Peter, but his answer seemed to satisfy her.

"Hogsmeade weekend next week," James said, changing the subject. "Halloween."

"Oh, I'm so excited! This will be the first time we've gone together, James," Lily said happily.

"Not for lack of trying," replied James with a grin.

Sirius laughed and reached out to ruffle James's hair, who dodged him like he was a Bludger in a Quidditch match. Then, he glanced over at Hermione, who was sitting primly across the table from him. She was absorbed in a book, as always, with a piece of toast in one hand. Her hair was up in a sort of knot today, but pieces of it were still falling out around her face. She took a bite of toast, wiped her fingers on a napkin, and turned the page, eyes drinking in every word. The only other person Sirius knew who would ever read a book at the breakfast table was Remus. And remembering the promise he'd made to Remus, he took a deep breath. He reached out and pushed the top of the book down so that he could see Hermione's eyes. She looked up at him, one eyebrow quirked.

"Hey, Hermione," Sirius said, trying to maintain a casual tone, but much more nervous that he'd ever been when asking a girl to Hogsmeade. "I was just thinking that, since you've never been to Hogsmeade or anything, maybe you'd . . . well I thought you might . . ."

"Spit it out, Black," James muttered under his breath, still checking his hair to be sure Sirius hadn't gotten any out of place.

"Would you like to go with me?" Sirius asked, his heart racing quite a bit more than he would have liked.

Hermione's eyes lit up and she smiled, closing her book and setting it neatly on the table. She looked up at him, brown eyes warm and sparkling.

"I'd love to, Sirius," she said, and Sirius let out a breath he hadn't been aware he was holding.

Classes seemed to fly by the rest of the day. Even Divination, which was usually as drawn out and boring as History of Magic, was less torturous than normal. Sirius was able to convince Professor Lightfoot that his dream the night before certainly indicated that he was destined to fall madly in love with someone very soon, and this suited her enough to let him get by without any homework. James's prediction of his own success at Quidditch coming up on Friday was met with a grim smile from Lightfoot and an assignment to write an essay on the correct interpretation of dreams.

"Looks like the game is hopeless, Prongs," Sirius said after class, clapping his friend on the back.

James just grunted. Sirius laughed, and the pair of them wandered down toward the Gryffindor Common Room. Remus had finally made his way back, though he was looking especially worse for wear. Hermione was sitting next to him with a hand on his shoulder. The sight gave Sirius a very distinctive swoop of jealousy that he tried to ignore, but every time he saw the two of them together, he couldn't help but worry. They were both quiet, both bookish. When Remus saw Sirius, he smiled genuinely and scooted over to make room between himself and Hermione. And, when Hermione caught his eye, all of his worries fled. Her eyes simply sparkled to see him, and her face lit up. Sirius couldn't help but smile. He squeezed in between them, and James plopped down in the chair nearby. Lily soon joined them, perching on the arm of the chair and draping an arm behind James's shoulders.

"I'm sure Gryffindor will win," James said, mostly to himself.

"Quidditch?" Hermione asked.

"First game against Slytherin," added Lily, who was rubbing James's back reassuringly.

"Oh," Hermione said knowingly.

"I suppose you've gathered that Gryffindor and Slytherin aren't exactly friendly," said Remus.

"Oh, yes, I've figured that much out," Hermione said quickly. "Do we usually beat them in Quidditch?"

"It varies," said Sirius. "But with James as captain this year, I'm sure we'll do it."

"Thanks, mate," James said, not looking at all comforted.

Friday rolled around, and Sirius waited patiently at the foot of the stairs to the girls' dormitory, wanting to escort Hermione to the Quidditch pitch. Lily and Amanda had left early in the morning: Amanda to warm up before the game, and Lily to watch James and show her support. Remus and Peter had both already headed out to the pitch as well, but Sirius stuck around to take Hermione. She descended the staircase in Muggle jeans and a red and gold tank top that highlighted every curve of her body, making Sirius's eyes pop.

"You look . . ."

"Like a Gryffindor?" she offered.

"Exactly," he said with a smirk.

They walked to the Quidditch pitch slowly, chatting about their classes and about the incredibly difficult Arithmancy homework they had to work on over the weekend.

"You'll help me with it, right?" Sirius asked.

"Of course," Hermione said laughing.

Sirius took a deep breath to build up his courage and gingerly wrapped an arm around Hermione's waist pulling her up next to him.

(())

The hand placed gently on her side was electrifying, and she was so close to him that she could smell him. It was certainly the same smell that she had identified in her Amortentia potion. Her logical side kept screaming, what am I going to do? I'm going to ruin the future! But the fanciful side she didn't know she had was shouting, He's gorgeous and he's holding my waist! The fanciful side proved to be much louder, and Hermione let herself step in closer to him as they made their way to the Gryffindor stands.

They scooted in the bench next to Remus, Peter, and Lily. Sirius kept a hand around her waist during the entire game, saving for when they'd all stand and shout cheers at the players. It wasn't hard to spot James on the field; he was a fast flyer, reminding her very much of Harry, and he had the word "POTTER" emblazoned in gold across his back. He flew by the stands, sending a wave and a kiss at Lily, who blushed and giggled.

"Do you like Quidditch?" Sirius whispered in her ear, and she could feel the tickle of his breath in her hair.

"I try," she replied. "I don't really know much about it, other than the basics."

"Hermione Granger, the most studious person I know, doesn't know about Quidditch?" he said, and she laughed.

After that, he kept whispering in her ear the strategies that James was employing in the game. Hermione wasn't at all listening to what he was saying, she was focusing entirely on the warm breath against her neck and the hand placed gently on her back, drinking in his smell. She had never felt the sensations that were coursing through her body, not with Viktor and not with Ron.

In the end, James scored just as Amanda Jones caught the Snitch, causing uproarious cheers from the Gryffindor end of the stands. Hermione let Sirius escort her back to the Common Room, and after a fun night of celebration, she went up to bed.

"Don't forget, Hogsmeade tomorrow," Sirius called after her, giving her a sexy wink as she climbed the stairs.

Hermione fell onto her bed, an enormous grin plastered on her face. It doesn't even seem like the same Sirius, she thought, trying to square the young man she was flirting with and the adult she had seen fall through the Veil. She rolled over on her stomach and giggled, unable to think about anything but his warm hand around her waist and his breath tickling the side of her neck.