On Saturday morning, Sirius wakes up early for Quidditch practice. He heads downstairs into the common room and finds Hermione curled up on the sofa reading. "Morning," he says and she looks up, smiling warmly.
"Hey," she yawns, stretching.
"Can't sleep?" he asks.
"It's been a long time since I've slept in a dorm," she admits. "Plus, Cass snores."
"I know," Sirius chuckles. "Hey, is that my shirt?"
"Yeah," she says. "I stole a couple of yours, a couple of Remus' and a couple of James' for Lily."
"What about Peter?" Sirius asks.
"He's smaller than me," she says as if it should be obvious. "Kinda defeats the purpose of wearing an over-sized t-shirt to bed."
"You wore my shirt to bed?" he says, grinning. "Does that make you my girlfriend?"
"It makes me a thief," she says, avoiding the question. "Where are you going?"
"Quidditch practice," he replies.
"Oh right," she says, nodding. "You're a Beater, right? And James is a Chaser? Where is James?"
"He should be coming," Sirius says. "It's just hard to get him out of bed in the morning."
"Like Harry," she says under her breath, grinning.
"So, you gonna come watch us practice?" Sirius asks.
"Yeah, I don't see why not," Hermione beams. "I should probably go and put some pants on though, right?"
"Good idea," he laughs, unwinding the scarf from around his neck. "Wear this."
"Why?" she says, taking it.
"Because I'm asking you to," he says simply. "I'll see you out there?"
"Definitely," she grins, leaning in to kiss his cheek. At the last second, he turns his head and presses his lips against hers briefly. "What was that for?"
"Good luck," he says, beaming. "See you." He bounds out of the common room, whooping, and she giggles, turning and heading towards her dorm. Before she can get there, however, James appears, a confused expression on his face. His eyes fall on her and it clears into an expression of realisation.
"Oh, it's you," he says.
"What's me?" Hermione asks.
"You're the reason Sirius is so happy," James says. "You're always the reason Sirius is happy lately."
"What do you mean?" she laughs. "Sirius is a happy guy, isn't he?"
"He is," James agrees. "Or at least, he pretends to be. But with you, he just…he's different, I don't know. I see he gave you his scarf."
"He did," she says, blushing as she glances down at it. "Does that mean something?"
"Put it this way," James says, grinning. "I've been trying to give Lily my scarf for years."
"Oh, should I give it back?" Hermione says anxiously. "I don't want to tread on anyone's toes."
"Babe, every girl in the school wants Padfoot's scarf," James laughs. "And he chose you. Don't give it back. Wear it with pride."
"Okay," Hermione says, tying it round her neck with a grin. "I'll see you in a bit, James."
"Okay," James says. "Oh, and Mi?" Hermione turns back and raises an eyebrow. "I won't tell anyone you sleep in his shirt."
"I appreciate that," she laughs. "But he's probably going to tell everyone."
"True," James says.
With that, he hurries off to join practice while Hermione heads up to the dorm to dress for the day. She puts on a pair of figure hugging skinny jeans, a tight black jumper, a grey gilet and boots, topping the outfit off with Sirius' prized scarf, and then heads down to the pitch to watch their practice.
"Hey!" Lily shouts as she, Cass and Marlene join Hermione in the stands. "How long have you been out here?"
"Couple of hours," Hermione says, shrugging. "I like the fresh air and I couldn't sleep any longer."
"How are they doing?" Cass asks, looking out at the pitch just as Adrian Lewis dives for the Snitch.
"Good," Hermione nods approvingly. "Adrian's on top form, Sirius is his usual excitable self and-"
"Is that his scarf?!" Marlene shrieks.
"What?!" Lily and Cass shout as Cass slips off her seat.
"Oh, Merlin it is," Lily gushes. "Hermione, when did he give that to you?!"
"This morning," Hermione says. "It's just a scarf."
"Just a scarf?!" Marlene groans as Cass falls off her seat again. "It is not just a scarf, Hermione! He's basically asking you to be his girlfriend!"
"What?!" Hermione says loudly. "Are you serious?"
"No, he is," Cass says, pointing to the Beater.
"Not the time," Hermione says, swatting Cass angrily.
"Sorry, sorry," Cass says.
"Mi, you're a Muggleborn," Lily says. "You know in American movies, when a guy's going out with a girl, sometimes he'll give her his jacket?"
"Yeah," Hermione says apprehensively.
"Well, we don't have jackets," Lily says. "We have scarves."
"Good Lord," Hermione says. "You guys, I didn't know."
"Clearly," Cass says, grinning. "But Sirius did and he gave his to you!"
"What do you mean?" Hermione asks, pulling the scarf off anxiously.
"Do you have any idea how many girls have tried to get Sirius' scarf over the years?" Marlene laughs. "Hell, I dated him for six months and he didn't even suggest it. Some girls even went as far as to steal it! And he knows you for what, three weeks and he just hands it over, easy as that."
"I didn't know," Hermione says awkwardly. "Does that mean he's going to expect something from me now?"
"If it was anybody else, I'd say yes," Lily says quietly. "But it's Sirius. He's used girls for years without turning a hair but with you, he hasn't even tried. I think he's just trying to show you that he cares."
"Merlin," Hermione says. "It wasn't supposed to be like this. It wasn't supposed to be messy or complicated, I just wanted to fade into the background."
"Babe, if you really wanted that, you wouldn't have worn stilettos on your first day," Marlene teases. "Or knocked Theodore Nott out in ten seconds flat. You need complicated, which seems to suggest that Sirius is your guy."
"But he's Sirius Black," Hermione says and the other three nod in agreement.
"He is," Lily says. "And you're Hermione Granger."
"Afternoon," Sirius says, throwing himself down on the couch beside Hermione. She is curled up in the empty common room, her knees pulled up to her chest and is reading a book. She puts it down as he speaks and surveys him with a distinct displeasure colouring her face.
"You are in a world of trouble," she says severely.
"Me?" he yelps. "Why?"
"What in Godric's name were you thinking?!" she says, whacking him with her book. "You didn't tell me what the scarf meant! I thought you were just being nice."
"I was," he laughs. "Stop hitting me, you mad girl, and listen." She lets him tug the book out of her hands and crosses her arms tightly, waiting. "Hermione, I've been on the Gryffindor Quidditch team for 5 years and I've never even considered giving anyone my scarf. I knew the connotations and I knew what people would say. I also knew that my brother would send word to my mother who would doubtless abuse me for making stupid, reckless choices. I knew all of that and I didn't see the point. There was no-one at Hogwarts who was worth it. And then you came, literally crashing into my life. And I didn't care anymore. I didn't care what people said, not even my mum. I just wanted to make sure you weren't cold. Do you understand?"
"I think so," Hermione says. "I would have liked it if you'd warned me. Seriously, Sirius, if looks could kill, I'd have died a hundred times over today."
"Well that's because I'm really hot," he teases, pouting as she laughs. "Are you really mad at me?"
"No," she says, brushing her thumb against his lips.
"Give me a kiss then," he says, leaning closer to her.
"What's this one for?" she asks, not pulling away.
"For forgiveness," he says, pressing his lips against hers. This time it is longer; his mouth moulds to hers and he kisses her until she has to pull away to breathe.
"That was quite a kiss," she says breathlessly. "You'll be the death of me, Sirius Black."
"Maybe," he laughs. "But you'll enjoy it." He leans in and kisses her again, brushing his thumb over her cheek and then sliding his hand up into her hair. She mirrors his actions, her hand fisting in his hair.
"We really shouldn't be doing this, you know," she says, panting as she pulls away. "I am not good for you."
"Me either," he says, grinning cheekily.
"I'm serious," she says.
"Nope, that's me," he says and she smiles even as she groans.
"Sirius, you should find yourself somebody else," she says urgently. "Somebody safe, somebody normal, somebody-"
"Boring?" Sirius suggests. "Sweetheart, does that sound like something I'd enjoy?"
"I know but-" she tries again and once again, he cuts her off.
"Hermione, stop," he says firmly. "It was never a choice. You are…bewitching. I could never be satisfied by normal again."
"Is that what this is about for you?" she snaps. "Being satisfied?"
"No!" he protests. "No, of course not, I was just saying-"
"Well don't just say," Hermione says. "I'm not your girlfriend. You're not my boyfriend. Merlin, Sirius, I don't do boyfriends. I've never done boyfriends, I'm not that kind of girl and you're certainly not going to be my first."
"Maybe I'm not your boyfriend now," Sirius says fairly. "We haven't known each other very long, that's fair enough. But I will be your boyfriend, your first boyfriend. And I'll also be your last."
"Why?" she teases. "You gonna kill me?"
"I'm gonna marry you," he says without a hint of humour. She blinks at him, stunned, and then his face cracks into the most beautiful smile. "I'm gonna marry you to death, Hermione Granger."
"I might just take you up on that," she laughs. "I just need to take it slow, okay?"
"Take what slow?" he asks. "The…physical stuff or…?"
"No," she says. "No, not that. I can handle that. It's just…the last time I fell in love, he died. I'm not ready to get hurt like that again. And you scare me, Sirius, because I feel more for you in two weeks than I ever felt for most of the guys I thought I loved."
"Well don't get all soppy on me, Granger," he laughs. "Come on, just give me a kiss."
"What's this one for?" she says, beaming.
"For…for simplicity," he says, leaning in and pressing his lips against hers once more. It is brief but it is sweet and when he pulls away, he grins at her like she's his favourite person in the world.