A/N: This is a bit of a transitional chapter, but I do reward the lack to true substance with a helping of smut. I didn't want to go two weeks without updating if I could help it, you all have been so patient with my erratic updating. I've planned out my last chapters of this story, and it'll be over before you know it.
Remember, way back when, I mentioned the only other man Hermione had been with was Harry, that it was a one-time only thing, and that I would write that story by popular demand? Well, I finally did it. If you haven't read it, it's called 'Dirty Laundry', it is M rated, and it's very much a stand-alone story.
So, enjoy, and please leave me a review.
More time passed, and the trip to Azkaban only strengthened Hermione and Sirius' relationship. It was now almost a nightly occurrence to see the black dog wandering through the halls to get to the Heads Dorms. If he came in when she was sleeping he didn't wake her, he would slip into bed next to her and hold her throughout the night. With the holidays coming up he was more than excited to get to spend more time with her.
But the holidays were confusing to her. Her family was planning on renting a villa in France for the two weeks she would be off, and were eager for some of the little time they would get to spend with their daughter before she graduated Hogwarts and entered life in the Wizarding world.
As per her mother's request she kept her parents informed on her relationship with Sirius (though she left the sexual aspect out of her letters). She tried to make sure she wrote every couple of weeks, but with her NEWT coursework it was getting more difficult. She had just gotten around to telling them about her trip to Azkaban, and was expecting a sound scolding in the next letter. Thank goodness they didn't know how to send Howlers.
Sirius bid Neville goodbye before giving her a kiss, transforming into the dog, and leaving through the portrait hole. Hermione's one stipulation to his nightly visits was that he and Neville work out the nervousness that accompanied his arrival, and they had done so brilliantly. Sirius answered all Neville's questions about his parents, and even told Neville it was an honor to know such a brave young man. Neville took the rare compliment well and no longer seemed bothered by the appearance of the ex-con.
She and Neville walked to breakfast together, which had become their routine, while she was coaching him in Charms or Transfiguration. They made it to breakfast and sat beside Ginny and Luna, who were discussing a potions project the had stayed up late the night before completing.
"One more day," Ginny said excitedly as they sat down. She had been counting down the days until their departure since the beginning of November. She was more than ready for Christmas, because Molly had invited Harry to come stay with them the entire two weeks Ginny would be home. Molly was ready for Harry to be an official part of the family, though she did insist he still share a room with Ron.
"Make your plans yet?" Luna asked, looking at Hermione.
"I guess I'm going to go to the Villa. Maybe I can convince Mum and Dad to let Sirius visit on Christmas," she replied.
"You make staying in a villa in France at Christmas sound like such a horrible thing," Neville laughed.
"It's not horrible," she chuckled. "I just don't think Sirius should be alone right now."
"Invite him to come with," Ginny shrugged.
"Oh, like Mum and Dad would love that."
"You two are practically living together. I'd be surprised if you didn't get a ring for Christmas."
"Oh, shut up," she blushed. "He probably couldn't come, he'd be too busy with work."
"I'm sure George would give him the time off if he asked, Goerge looks up to him as almost an older brother figure. If not, he could Floo in at night, and George gives all his employees Christmas Eve, Christmas day and the day after off. It's not like your parents haven't met him before."
"They have met him. My Mum's sister and my cousin, however..."
"Quite a crowd at Christmas," Neville nodded.
"Yes, well, we have a small family, so we like to get together."
"Does your aunt have a husband?"
"Yes, they've been married for about four years now. And my cousin has a fiancé that I think she's bringing."
"See, you wouldn't be the only one. I'm sure your aunt and cousin would love to meet Sirius. He is quite charming."
"We'll see," she muttered as the owls flew in. A brown school owl landed in front of her, holding out a letter bearing the elegant script of her mother. She handed the owl some toast after untying the letter from it's leg, and turned the letter over and over in her hands.
"Aren't you going to read it?" Luna asked.
"I guess," she sighed, tearing open the letter and slowly unfolding it.
Hermione,
I warned you about bringing up some of the more unsavory moments in Sirius' past. I'm not surprised by his reaction, but I'm proud that you realized that it was a situation that you two needed to work through as a couple. It shows maturity, and a desire to make things work between the two of you.
Your father and I got to talking, and we would like you to invite Sirius to the villa to spend Christmas with us. I know that it is short notice, and that it is somewhat of an unusual situation as he won't be able to use magic, but we can tell how important he is in your life right now, and we want to include him in our family events.
I'm not sure if you'll be able to reply by the time we come to collect you off the train. If not, we'll speak to you about it when we see you. We love you very much, and look forward to seeing you.
Mum
"I guess that settles that," she said, folding the letter and stuffing it in her bag. "Mum and Dad want me to invite Sirius to Christmas, so I guess I'm going to."
"If you don't want to spend the holidays with him..." Ginny raised an eyebrow.
"It's not that, it's just that my family are Muggles. And Sirius is so not like a Muggle. I don't know how he's going to do."
"He'll charm them all," she smiled. "You know him, he can charm anyone he wants to do nearly anything he wants."
"Right..." she rolled her eyes.
"You know that if he wanted to, he could charm your cousin's fiancé to leave her for him. He's that damn good."
"Could he charm you from Harry?" she raised an eyebrow.
"I wouldn't want him to cheat on you," she smiled, taking a bite of the sausage.
Later that night, fifteen minutes after the shop closed, the shaggy black dog jumped through the portrait hole and turned into Sirius.
"Good day, love?" he asked, striding forward to take her in his arms and kiss her tenderly.
"Yeah," she said, sitting on the couch and motioning for him to sit next to her.
"Where is Neville?" he looked around.
"He is taking Hannah Abbott to Hogsmeade on a date before we leave tomorrow."
"Good for him. If I had known I would have offered him use of my flat..."
"Sirius!"
"Hermione, love," he beamed, "I can think of no one else who deserves to have a good time more than Neville."
"I think he's trying to take it slowly with her. He really, really likes her."
"I don't doubt it," he smiled again, an almost mischevious smile that made her think he knew something she didn't. "But it's Christmas time, love. And Christmas makes us all a little impulsive."
"Speaking of which, feel like running off for two weeks?"
He laughed. "Impromptu vacation?"
"No, family Holiday ski trip to France."
"Family?" his eyebrow raised. "As in your mother and father?"
"And aunt, uncle, cousin, and future cousin-in-law," she said, biting her lip.
"You really want to introduce me to your whole family?"
"Yes," she said without hesitation. "You're a big part of my life now, and they should meet you." Especially if all this marriage talk you've been spewing recently isn't just drunken ramblings, her brain added.
He looked lost in thought for a moment, then smiled and said, "Let me see if I can't wrangle some time off from George."
She couldn't help but smile. "Really?"
"Mind you, I have no bloody idea how to ski, so I'll probably just sit around and look pretty."
She chuckled. "You're good at that."
"Cheeky little witch," he growled before his lips crashed into hers.
"Neville..." she said anxiously as he began to push her down onto the couch.
"He'll be gone for a while," Sirius purred into the crook of her neck. "I caught him on the way out, and gave him the key to my flat."
"You're horrible!" she moaned as she nipped at her skin, but she was excited they could spend their time together without worry of interruption. She usually kept the noise level to a minimum, despite the silencing charms, because she knew it made Neville uncomfortable to think of what they were doing together.
"You're thinking. Don't think, love," he purred again, slowly unfastening the buttons on her blouse and pulling it lovingly off her body. He pulled her skirt and panties from her, and positioned her in a sitting position on the couch. He knelt before her, parted her legs, and slowly licked up her already slick folds. She groaned and sunk into the couch, giving him better access. He moved his tongue slowly, lazily, tasting her and teasing her, smelling her get more and more aroused at each movement. He sped his motions, causing her head to roll back and her hands to clench in his hair.
He enjoyed watching her face as he tasted her. There was something different about her face as he ran his tongue over her, she didn't have another care in the world, she was totally focused on what he was doing, and he had her at his mercy. He could do this all day, as long as she continued making faces and moaning his name.
Deciding that he had teased her enough he flicked his tongue quickly over her favorite spot. As he expected she let his name escape her lips as her breathing became irregular, her hips started bucking involuntarily, and she finally gasped with her release.
"Get on the rug," he ordered, and she stood and walked to the rug by the fireplace. Without asking how he wanted it she got down on all fours and looked at him expectantly.
"Eager, are we, love?" he chuckled as he slowly got undressed. He positioned himself behind her, and slowly moved his cock into her. She rocked herself backwards, forcing him into her quickly. She continued moving back and forth quickly, and for a few moments he let her do it, extremely turned on by her insistence.
"Patience," he hissed, placing his hands on her hips to prevent her from controlling the action. The fact that she had taken control from him had nearly driven him over the edge, but he didn't want to finish too quickly. He had to make sure she enjoyed herself as well.
He used his hands to guide her on and off his cock, taking it slow until he felt he had enough control to move a little more quickly. He carefully wound a hand into her hair, prepared to let go if she objected, but she groaned in delight. The fact that she was so willing to give herself to him was too much for him. His hips pounded into hers, his other hand wound around her waist to press her fingers to her, and before long he felt himself nearing climax. He was about to slow, to deny himself release to make sure she climaxed again when she clamped down around him. His hand grasped her shoulder tightly as he spilled himself into her.
Feeling exhausted he collapsed backwards against the couch. Her arms wrapped around him in the next moment as her nude flesh pressed up to his.
"Merlin, witch," he said, panting. "I'm never going to keep up with you."
"You're doing a pretty good job," she muttered, craning her neck up to kiss him.
He summoned a blanket and wrapped it around their forms. He questioned her about her family, making sure he knew their names by heart, and enough he felt he could carry on a conversation with any of them without too much effort. They talked under the blanket by the fire until they could hear a voice on the other side of the portrait, at which point they darted to her room, their clothes flying after.
