A/N: So, I know it's been a while, but I was re-working my outline for (hopefully) the final time. Things are going to go quickly, and the end is in sight. Originally I was going to do more chapters than what I planned, but so many of them were not really necessary, and I was afraid of everything dragging and getting stale. In all seriousness, there will be one or two more chapters involving Hermione being at Hogwarts, that's sort of the pace of the next few chapters. But I couldn't cut everything, so this chapter is sort of the filler.
Enjoy, and please review.
The rest of their time in France went quickly, and soon enough they were bidding everyone goodbye to go spend New Years with Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Kia. Everyone had agreed that they wanted to spend New Years with each other and celebrate quietly, and secretly Hermione was thrilled for more than one reason. She didn't want all the attention she would get by going out in public, and it was more likely that Sirius would be able to keep his drinking in check in a calmer environment. He certainly hadn't been drinking as much recently, keeping his promise to her, but large gatherings where alcohol would be flowing freely made her nervous. They left the day before New Years Eve in order to spend more time with their friends.
"We're home!" Sirius said, letting them into Grimmauld Place. He must have said it too loud, because suddenly Mrs. Black was awake and spouting her usual bile.
"Aren't we in a good mood today, Mum?" he said, standing in front of the portrait, earning him a new spout of obscenities. "If you care to keep it quiet for a moment, I have big news. You know that Muggle-born woman I've been with that you're so fond of? She's decided to honor me by becoming my wife."
The portrait erupted, but Sirius shut the curtains and drowned it out.
"Must you instigate her?" Hermione groaned.
"There's few things in life I enjoy more. One day I'll figure out to get her off the wall for good, and I won't be able to be the thorn in her side anymore."
"Only a few things?" she raised an eyebrow.
"Most of them involving you," he purred, stepping forward and capturing her lips with his.
"Could you keep it in a room?" a voice sounded on the stairs above them, and they looked up to see Ginny trying to look stern. "We're having games in the library, and we'd like open access to the kitchen."
"It is my house..." Sirius smirked.
"Sweet Merlin," Hermione rolled her eyes and started towards the stairs. "Are Ron and Kia already here?"
"Came in last night," Ginny nodded.
"Really?" she smiled.
"First time they've spent the night together. And they're in really good moods today, so if you want to ask a favor..."
She chuckled as they reached the library. After exchanging greetings they settled on the love seat, watching as Ron trounced Harry in Wizard's chess.
"Fancy a game, Sirius?" Ron asked, gathering his pieces.
"I never back down from a challenge," he smiled. "But first, well, do you want to tell them, kitten?"
Hermione smiled as her friend's eyes all went to her. "On Christmas Sirius asked me to marry him. So I guess we're having a wedding soon."
Ginny squealed, jumping over Harry to grab at Hermione's left hand. Her mouth fell as she studied the princess-cut sapphire and diamond ring. "That's beautiful, Sirius. Nice choice."
"It's been known to happen on occasion," he smiled, wrapping an arm around Hermione.
"When is the big day? Where were you going to have it? Do you need someone to go dress shopping with?" she asked with scarcely a breath.
"Oi!" Hermione said, clapping a hand over her mouth. "We just got engaged. We're sort of basking in the moment right now. We'll talk about all that sort of stuff later, but right now isn't the time for all that. I was thinking we'd hold off on wedding planning until after NEWTs."
She pouted slightly. "I guess I can hold off for a few months."
"Congrats, old dog," Harry said as Ginny and Kia grilled Hermione on the proposal.
"It was the right time, I think," Sirius replied in a low voice. "We've been very up and down recently, but it just made me more determined to make sure I marry her."
"I've been expecting this for a while, though I was thinking you would go grander and more public."
"That's not Hermione. She's had enough of being the center of attention, I thought that something a little lower-key was in order. She liked it enough to agree," he shrugged.
"Are you worried about the wedding?"
"I have a bit of an idea about that, young one," he winked.
"Why is it that I don't have a good feeling about that look?"
"You'll be involved. Soon enough. I have to make a few phone calls. I know how Hermione worried about things, and I want to keep as much stress off her shoulders as possible. She has enough on her plate right now, what with NEWTs, then trying to get a job and all that."
"She'll probably want to hold off on a wedding until she gets all that done with."
"I have a few tricks up my sleeve."
"Don't do anything too stupid. She's one of my two best mates, she's been there through everything, and even though you're my godfather you'll be in for it if you do anything to hurt her."
"My dear pup, why would I do something that would jeopardize my idea of filling this place with little Blacks?" he smirked.
"Ugh, see. Right there. The fact that you'd even suggest that you would raise a family here..."
"Not in the slightest. There's several other Black properties scattered around the country, most of them with yards. This one is just closest to the Ministry, so it was our main house."
"Are you planning on telling Hermione about said other houses?"
"She'll be entitled to know about them as a Black. Before we get married I'm going to get them fixed up and let her pick the one she wants to live in."
"You're really planning things out, aren't you?" he said with a raised eyebrow.
"What can I say? I am a changed Marauder," he said with a glance at Hermione, who was laughing while pantomiming a sweater.
"But still a Marauder," Harry pointed out.
"That will never change. And I think Hermione likes it like that."
He couldn't be sure, but when he glanced at his bride-to-be he thought he saw her wink at him.
On New Years Eve the girls sent Harry, Ron, and Sirius to a Quidditch game, and Kia, who had never seen one, tagged along, leaving Ginny and Hermione working on cooking food for that night. Ginny had spent an hour trying to get Hermione to lay down even a single plan for her wedding, and it took Hermione threatening to throw a dung-bomb in Harry's room to get her to change subject.
"Can I at least ask if you're going to have an engagement party?" Ginny asked, slicing some vegetables.
"Can I stop your mother from throwing us one?"
"She's in a good mood because she really likes Kia, so you won't be being stolen from Ron..."
Hermione rolled her eyes.
"I know, I know. She just had this grand idea of you getting married to Ron, and me getting married to Ginny, and the two of you would be official family members. She just loves you both like her own."
"I love your mother, too, but she can be a tad overbearing at times."
They worked in silence for a little bit, and Hermione could almost hear Ginny ready to explode.
"Will you just come out with whatever you're holding in?" she sighed, putting her knife down and looked at the redhead.
"I have a really good idea on what you can get Sirius for a wedding present," Ginny replied quickly.
"Dare I ask?" she muttered.
"Well, since Ron had to work, so I rode up here with Kia. And we got to doing a little girl talk, and she mentioned this aunt of hers. This aunt does something for a living, and I think Sirius would love it."
"What does she do?"
Ginny smiled excitedly. "She is a..." she started, but there was the sound of a slamming door from above. She sighed, then muttered, "Damn, it must have been a short match. But you love it. I'll tell you later."
Hermione frowned for a second, because she wished Ginny had ten more seconds to say what she was planning for her in the future, but the frown disappeared quickly as Sirius walked in, holding a bouquet of roses.
"What's the occasion?" she asked as he dropped to one knee and held them out to her.
"You stayed behind and cooked lots of delicious smelling food for us. I thought that deserved a little recognition," he said, standing up and kissing her cheek gently.
"I cooked, too," Ginny pouted.
"Oops," Harry looked sheepish.
"Here," Hermione smiled, pulling the bouquet in two. She dropped to a knee in front of Ginny, and smiled up at the redhead, who pretended to swoon. "Thank you for helping me cook, though it would have been easier if we spent more time learning household spells and less time having girl time."
"Girl time?" Ron looked at them curiously.
"What happens during girl time is just between us girls," Ginny winked.
"I'm going to take those flowers back," Hermione grumbled.
"You know you love me, 'Mione."
"I do, redheaded sister figure."
The food was laid out, and raided just as quickly. Then they gathered in front of the television that Harry had installed after hearing Sirius rave about how much he liked the one in Australia. They played Gobstones until Kia, who was by far the worst at it, decided she was sick of washing the foul liquid off herself and they decided Exploding Snap was a better choice.
Right before midnight Harry passed out champagne, the first drinks of the night, and Hermione was shocked that no alcohol had come out before that. The thought that Sirius hadn't had anything to drink made her so excited that she flung her arms around him and kissed him passionately.
"Not that I'm complaining, love, but aren't you supposed to wait until midnight?" he smiled down at her.
"Do I need a reason to kiss my future husband?" she asked.
"No. But I want to do this midnight thing properly," he said, sweeping her off her feet and dancing his lips with hers as the grandfather clock started chiming.
