Thank you to all my reviewers!
And here's the next chapter .
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"So?"
"Leave me alone, Sirius."
"Aww, come on 'Mione."
"Sirius," Hermione says, not even looking up from her Transfiguration essay. "I am not having this conversation. And I wish you'd stop hounding me in the library."
"I don't see what the big deal is," He replies, leaning back on the rear legs of his chair. "I'm just curious as to what you see in my brother and not me."
"He's a better kisser," Hermione replies with a smirk.
"Well I hope that's not the only reason."
Sirius falls backwards with a loud thump and swear as Regulus walks around a bookshelf to where they were sitting, jumping up on the table's edge. "He's not bothering you, is he?" Regulus asks, gesturing towards where Sirius was slowly getting up from the floor.
"Nope," Hermione replies, scratching out an entire line in her paper. "I've been ignoring him completely."
"Hey," Sirius states, having righted himself, and sat back down in a more safe position at the table. "That's not very nice."
Hermione smiles, placing her quill down and pushing her parchment away from her. "Well it's what you get when you be purposely annoying."
"He has a tendency to do that." Regulus states with a grin.
Sirius sends his brother a glare and Hermione can't help the laugh that escapes her.
"Something funny?" Sirius asks.
"Very," Hermione replies. "You two are actually acting like brothers."
Sirius doesn't reply, but leans back in his chair, his arms crossed tightly against his chest, his face in a pout.
"So you done yet?" Regulus asks with a smile. "I thought we could go for a walk on the grounds. It's pretty warm out today."
"I could finish this later," Hermione replies, looking towards Sirius. "Do you think you could find something to do that won't get you into trouble until James gets out of detention?"
"You act as if I constantly need attention."
Hermione just shrugs and Sirius stands. "I'll let you two alone then," he states, nodding at his brother in acknowledgement. "See you at dinner?"
"See you then," Hermione replies and watches as Sirius leaves the library. Regulus helps her collect her belongings, and places them inside of her bag, jumping off the table as she stands.
"Shall we?" Regulus asks, holding out his hand.
Hermione rolls her eyes at him, clasping her right hand in his left. "Since when are you so formal?"
He shrugs, leading her out of the library and through the front doors of the castle and onto the beautiful fall grounds.
"It's gorgeous out," Hermione says, breathing in deeply and looking around the grounds.
"I thought you might enjoy it," Regulus replies, leading them over to a tree by the lake. He lets go of her hand to take off his thick cloak, throwing it down at the tree's base and rolling up both of his white sleeves up to his elbows.
Hermione watches as Regulus grins at her before jumping up to grab a low hanging branch on the tree and pulling himself up so he can swing his legs over and hang by his knees.
"What are you doing?" Hermione asks him in amusement.
"Just hanging out," he replies, moving his hands to his stomach to mimic a chimp.
Hermione starts to laugh, and then remembers the camera that Lily had let her borrow for the rest of her time here. "Wait a second," she exclaims, rummaging through her bag and retrieving the camera, "let me take a picture."
He holds the pose and puffs his cheeks out so she can take the magical Polaroid, remaining hanging from the tree as she places her bag on the ground beside his cloak and the camera on top of her bag.
"Don't you have practice soon?"
"Not for an hour," Regulus replies, letting himself down from the branch. "And I'd much rather be here with you than at Quidditch practice."
"Isn't your game against Gryffindor in a week?"
"Yeah, but we're going to be slaughtered," he replies. "Sirius and Potter are leagues better than Lestrange, Nott and Lestrange."
"And how are you at Seeker?"
"I can hold my own," Regulus replies with a grin, sitting down with his back against the tree. He spreads his legs so Hermione can sit down between them, her back against his chest.
"Can I ask you something?" Hermione says, as Regulus' arms clasp around her waist.
"Feel free," he replies.
Hermione pauses before asking. "Why do you have to join the Death Eaters?"
Regulus doesn't respond at first and takes a deep breath. "I don't exactly have a choice anymore," he replies. "I've played along for my parents since I was little after seeing how they treated Sirius when he disagreed. They have hopes for me to be high up in the Dark Lord's ranks, and as they're in the Dark circle, he's well aware of my existence and how I appear to support him."
Hermione turns around, so she's sitting sideways in his lap so they can face each other. "It doesn't have to be that way," she pleads. "You can go to Dumbledore, ask for help! Run away like Sirius!"
"Why would Dumbledore help me?"
"Believe me," Hermione says. "If you really walk out of all of this, Dumbledore can help you. He did it for Sev!"
"Sev?" Regulus questions.
Hermione bites her bottom lip, tears forming in her eyes. "Something happened and he changed his mind about being a Death Eater and he went to Dumbledore for his protection. You can too, Reg."
Regulus doesn't respond, continuing to stare into Hermione's eyes. "You are," he says, "a truly remarkable person."
She looks down and Regulus lifts her face back up with his hand. "Not many people would be so understanding of a wannabe Death Eater."
Hermione gives a small laugh and Regulus wipes the tears away from her face, bringing his hand to behind her head and resting his forehead against hers.
"I'm really going to miss you," Hermione says softly.
"Hey," he says, pulling back from her. "None of that. Not yet."
She nods at him and he pulls her in for a gentle kiss.
"Black!"
Both Regulus and Hermione turn towards the voice where two boys approach them, wearing Slytherin Quidditch robes and carrying brooms.
"Rodolphus and Rabastan Lestrange," Regulus says in a loud manner as they both stand. "As to what do I owe the pleasure?"
"You bloody well know what," Rodolphus exclaims. "We might only be beaters, but even we know that are chances against Gryffindor are null without our Seeker."
"It's only practice, my dear cousins," Regulus replies, turning back to face Hermione. "We'll continue later then?" He asks with a raised eyebrow.
Hermione rolls her eyes at him and stands on the tip of her toes to give him a kiss goodbye. "I'll see you later," she replies and watches as he grabs his discarded cloak and heads to the castle with the other two boys.
"You two seem happy," Severus' voice sounds from behind her.
"As much as we can be," Hermione replies, turning to face him as he walks along the edge of the lake.
"It will do no good to dwell on it, 'Mione. You were meant to go home, and you must rejoin your time."
"It doesn't make it any easier," Hermione states as Severus pulls her into a hug.
Severus slowly pulls himself away from her and bends down at the base of the tree to collect her belongings, pulling the strap of her bag on his shoulder.
"C'mon," he states, wrapping his arm around her shoulder and leading her towards the castle.
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You know the deal-
As always, I love hearing from you lot.