A/N: Ugh. I'll admit, I'm having a bit of a case of writers block when it comes to this story. I knew that I wanted to write this part of this chapter, but I'm still on the fence about the rest of the what I was going to write. But I realized that I haven't updated this in a while, and I wanted to get something to you guys for being so patient. So you get a short half-chapter thing. I'm sorry, and I'm going to try to get the second bit of this up as soon as I can. Transitional chapters, not my favorite, but sometimes necessary.
Thanks for reading, reviewing (for those of you who have), and enjoy!
Hermione went back to London on the train, agreeing to meet up with her parents there so they could go to France together. Sirius would meet them in France, he had 'no patience' for Muggle travel methods. She thought it would be a good thing to spend some time with her family before her admittedly eccentric boyfriend showed up to spend time with them. He did promise to have Harry take him shopping for clothes, as most of his semi-formal Christmas dinner attire might be suited for a night at Grimmauld Place, but would raise eyebrows around Muggles.
"Mum!" she said the moment she opened the compartment door. Her parents must have remembered that the head boy and girl's compartment was the first on the train, because they were waiting, unperturbed by the oddly dressed witches and wizards around them, exactly where the compartment door was stopped. No one could accuse Hermione Granger of coming across her photographic memory dishonestly.
"Hullo, sweetie," her mother smiled, holding her arms wide for a hug. "Great to see you."
"Good to see you, too," she said, hugging her mother first, then her father. "How is everything?"
"We're ready for a vacation," David smiled.
"Me, too. When does the plane leave?"
"First thing in the morning. How's Sirius?"
"He's showing a remarkable dedication to his work at the moment," she rolled her eyes. Sirius had thrown himself into getting the shop ready for the holiday. He had even left early the night before to go get some work done before he went shopping with Harry. "He'll meet us the day after tomorrow. He says he'll be there in time for dinner."
"Have you made him nervous, dear?" Jean smiled.
"No," she protested, gathering the small trunk she had packed for her time away. "He's made himself nervous. He's never been one to go meet a girl's family before."
"As charming as he is?"
"Why does everyone say that? Are you meeting a different Sirius?"
"Are you denying that he's charming?"
"He is. When he's not infuriating," she smiled as they took their turn to exit the barrier.
"He's your boyfriend. He's supposed to drive you mad and make everyone else think he's the greatest thing on the planet," she smiled at her husband, who looked slightly affronted.
"He's doing a damn good job of it," she muttered, but with a smile. She loved Sirius, and she certainly found him charming and witty, but he knew how to get under her skin better than everyone, including Ron.
"Well, we told your aunt and cousin that you were bringing a gentleman friend. They are quite anxious to meet him."
"Really?" she raised her eyebrow. Her aunt being 'anxious' about anything involving Hermione was a little odd. She loved her niece, but she was much more interested in her cousin and her upcoming nuptials.
"How often does someone bring an ex-felon on vacation with them?"
"Oh, you told them that?" she groaned.
"It was bound to come up. I thought if I told them everything upfront Sirius doesn't have to do all the awkward explaining right after he arrives."
"Now he's just going to have to claw his way up from his bad reputation."
"I told them he was innocent, and that there had been faulty evidence against him that caused him to be wrongfully convicted, and I think that they believe me. But that doesn't mean he's not fascinating."
"He just better not be too fascinating," she breathed as they reached the car.
The rest of their night, and the plane ride the next day, was spent discussing Hogwarts, classes, and her job prospects once she left school. They were excited that she was thinking of a job in Law Enforcement, and not starting Auror training to work with Harry and Ron. They said it would be good for their friendship if they didn't spend every waking minute together, but she knew it was because the survival rate in the Magical Law Enforcement office was much higher than that of the Auror office. It was clear that they had enough of her risking her life.
They were discussing how they had reestablished their dental practice when they made it to the large vacation villa. A second car in the drive showed that they were not the first to arrive. They made their way inside, where they were greeted by Hermione's Aunt Diane, her husband William, her cousin Olivia and her fiancé Blake. She quickly excused herself to go put her stuff away and take a moment to herself before facing her family.
Her and Sirius' room was the furthest from the main area, and that suited her fine. They would be able to perform spells on the room without messing with any of the electronics, and any owls that might arrive on Christmas probably wouldn't be noticed. There was a large bed, a private bathroom, a television, and a small balcony overlooking the mountains.
She sat on the bed, running her fingers over the soft sheets. She had a feeling, deep down in her stomach, that something big was going to happen this Christmas. And she had learned to trust those gut feelings. She just hoped it was something good.
She carefully put her things away, making sure she left plenty of room for Sirius' things. She stowed her wand in her pocket, making sure there was no way her family could see it. She wanted to use magic to help with some of the chores, but she wouldn't tell her family. It was just easier that way.
When she was settled and had some time to take in the view from her balcony she straightened up in the bathroom and went downstairs to help with dinner. She reached the top of the stairs when she heard something that made her stop dead.
"... about time I get away. Christmas rush and all."
"And who is running the shop?"
"George sent Ron over. I think he trusts family more during the Christmas season, anyways."
She couldn't stop the smile that came across her face as she rushed down the stairs to the landing. As soon as she rounded the corner she saw him, smiling, talking to her father. Sirius looked up at her, smiling.
"Hullo, love. Miss me?"
"It would seem it was you who missed me, Mr. Black," she smiled, coming down the stairs. Sensing a lovers reunion was about to happen David walked towards the kitchen. As soon as he rounded the corner she threw herself into his arms and pressed her lips urgently to his.
"I told you that you missed me," he smirked.
"Cheeky bastard," she rolled her eyes.
"You love it."
"I do," she smiled, pressing her lips to his again.
"Do I look okay?" he asked, stepping back. He was wearing simple slacks and a button-up.
"Very nice," she nodded in approval. "Very Muggle."
"Good. I don't like it, so I assumed that it was probably okay. Harry said it was a good first-impression outfit."
"Well, after tonight you can dress more informally."
"Until Christmas. Harry told me that probably more of a dressy occasion."
"Please don't tell me he made you buy a Muggle suit."
"Of course not, love," he smiled. "I brought one of my own."
"One of your own?" she bit her lip nervously, picturing the pinstriped suits and intricately designed waistcoats that were a common part of Sirius' wardrobe.
"Don't worry," he smirked, as if he could read her mind. "If anyone can pull off my suits in a Muggle world, it's me."
"I'm not saying you don't look good in them, but Sirius, that might be a little much for my Muggle family..."
He flashed her a grin that made her knees weak. "I'm not the first eccentric rich person the world has ever know, I most certainly will not be the last."
She rolled her eyes, but couldn't help but smile. Her parents weren't lying when they said the man was charming. "Just keep it in control, alright? These people have... never met anyone quite like you."
"And they never will again. One of a kind, love."
"Would you like me to show you to our room to put your stuff away?"
"I'll bring it up later. I don't want to be tempted at the moment."
"Honestly, Sirius," she sighed. "You can't go a day?"
"I never said tempted by you. I stayed up all night working on the store so everything was ready for Ron to take over, then I went shopping with Harry so I could come a day early. I'm running on a stay-awake potion. I'm daydreaming of a nice, cozy bed right now."
She put on a fake pouting face, and tried to look insulted by his lack of interest in her.
He chuckled, then held a hand out to brush his fingers gently across her face and into her hair. "I would never say to a romp with you, love," he whispered so no one could overhear him. "It's just that I'm quite fatigued and probably not up to my usual performance."
She pressed herself to him, moved her lips to within a fraction of an inch of his ear before whispering, "you better be planning on making it up to me in the morning."
"You really are going to kill me, you minx," he muttered before turning her head and pressing his lips to hers.
"Hermione!" her mother called from the kitchen. "Could you come help me, please?"
"She sure knows how to kill the mood," she said, backing away from Sirius, who was looking slightly annoyed at the intrusion.
"She's just doing her job, trying to protect your virtue and all that."
"Oops," she said, looking innocent and covering her mouth daintily.
He let out a barking laugh before stowing his suitcase at the bottom of the stairs and following her towards the kitchen.
