7
"Morning, Sev," Hermione says, kissing his cheek as she passes, on her way to the breakfast table.
"Good morning," he stutters but she's already gone, swinging her legs over the bench and grabbing a piece of toast.
"Lils, which one is Avery?" she asks quietly.
"The tallest one," Lily says, pointing to the bunch of Slytherin boys at the end of their table. "Dark haired?"
"Cool," Hermione says. She finishes her toast in two bites, gives Sirius, James, Remus and Peter each a kiss on the cheek and then gets back up. "I'll meet you guys in the Entrance Hall in like half an hour?"
"Sure," Peter says, more focused on his food; Remus, Sirius and James all half-rise as if to follow her.
"Are you sure about this, Hermione?" Sirius says nervously. "I can come with you."
"No, I'm fine," Hermione says. "I'll be fine. Stay here."
"Okay," Sirius says reluctantly.
Hermione kisses him once more and then walks across the room to where the Slytherins are sitting. "Morning boys," she says, sitting down next to Severus and smiling warmly.
"Granger," Nott says regally. "Bored of the lions already?"
"I actually wanted to clear the air, Nott," she says. "I feel like we got off on a bad foot and it would be a shame if we couldn't be civil going forwards."
"Quite," Nott says. "Well there's no bad blood on my side, Miss Granger."
"Good," she says. "Will you introduce me to your friends?"
"Of course, where are my manners?" Nott says. "Mulciber, Avery, Regulus Black, Bella, Narcissa and you know Severus."
"That I do," Hermione says. "Black? You're Sirius's brother, right?"
"I am," Regulus says coolly. "And you're his girlfriend."
"I wouldn't go that far," Hermione says. "Avery, I wonder if I might have a word with you in private?"
"Of course," he says emotionlessly, standing up and striding out of the hall. Hermione claps Severus on the back, waves at the others and follows him out. She walks behind him as he walks into an empty classroom and sits down on a desk. "What can I do for you, Miss Granger?" he asks.
"Who says I want something?" Hermione teases, her back against the door.
"Of course you do," Avery says. "You've been working your way round the school, turning everyone's heads, getting everything you want. And now it's my turn."
"Okay, so I do want something," Hermione says. "A little bird tells me that you speak Parseltongue."
"That's not public knowledge, Miss Granger," he says darkly. "And it's not something which has a good reputation as I'm sure you're aware."
"I don't care about its reputation," Hermione says, looking at him intently. "I want you to teach me."
"I beg your pardon?" he says. "Miss Granger, this isn't something that you can just-"
"You can call me Hermione," she says quietly. "And I only need to learn one word. Please, Avery, I need to try."
"Why?" he asks.
"I can't tell you that," she says.
"So, you need my help but you can't tell me why," Avery says, not taking his eyes off her. "Why would I help you, Hermione?"
"I'll owe you a favour, obviously," Hermione says, tugging at the sleeves of her jumper nervously.
"Okay," Avery says, clearly thinking hard. "Alright, Hermione, I'll teach you your word. When and where?"
"Tonight," Hermione says. "We'll start tonight. Here at 10?"
"Okay," Avery says. "But you come alone or I won't do it."
"You need to come alone too," Hermione says.
"Of course," Avery says courteously. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have a few errands to run."
"We're meeting in The Three Broomsticks for lunch," she says. "Severus and Regulus are supposed to be coming along as well so you're more than welcome to join us."
"Maybe another time," Avery says. "See you tonight, Hermione."
"Behave," Hermione says as she watches Severus and Regulus enter. At the moment, she is tucked up in the corner of a booth, her legs stretched across Sirius's lap. Beside Sirius, Remus is in the other corner with Cass on his lap. James and Lily are opposite Sirius and Hermione and Peter, Marlene and Alice are at the other end of the table. "I mean it, boys, please don't start a row."
"Okay," Sirius says, leaning in and kissing her gently.
"Hi guys," Hermione says brightly as they come over with drinks. "Sit down, join us."
"Hey," Severus says awkwardly, sitting down beside James.
"Thanks for coming," James says, extending a hand for Snape to shake. "About time we buried the hatchet, don't you think? For everyone's sake?"
Severus stares for a moment, clearly thinking hard and then he smiles and shakes James's hand. Sirius is next to extend a hand, though not without an elbow in the ribs from Hermione, then Remus and Peter follows suit.
Sirius's eyes move onto Regulus then, who is sitting in between Severus and Alice, fidgeting nervously. "You alright bro?" he asks.
"Fine," Regulus says, smiling wanly. "How are you?"
"I'm great," Sirius says, squeezing Hermione's hand fondly. "How's Mum? And Dad?"
"On their usual form," Regulus says. "They blew Andy off the tapestry last week."
"Because of Ted?" Sirius says. "Did you get an invitation?"
"Nope," Regulus says.
"I'll speak to her," Sirius says. "If you want to go that is?"
"I don't think Mum would like it," Regulus says.
"She doesn't have to know," Sirius says. "Come on, everyone's going. James and Hermione will be there, right guys?"
"Sure," Hermione says. "Thanks for the invite, Sirius." She winks at Regulus who grins, immediately more relaxed.
"Severus," Remus says. "Have you done this week's potions essay?"
"Yes," Severus says. "I just need to write my conclusion, why?"
"I was wondering how you justified the use of salamander blood?" Remus asks. "Lily, what did you put?"
"Ugh, I'm going to get another beer," Sirius groans. "Anyone want anything? My round? Snape?"
"Yeah, I'll take a beer," Severus says, fumbling in his bag for his essay. "Thank you."
Several hours later, the group are back in the Gryffindor common room. It is late and almost empty as they laze around the fireplace. "Come on guys," Hermione says. "Where's all your energy gone?"
"I'm tired," Marlene groans, her head resting on Remus's lap.
Hermione rolls her eyes, waving her hand and turning the radio on. She extends a hand to James, who is lying across Lily's lap, and says, "Please will you dance with me?"
James hesitates for a moment, clearly fighting his laziness, and then grabs her hand with a cheeky grin. She pulls him to his feet and they start to dance, turning and jumping and singing and laughing; quickly Sirius and Alice have jumped up to join them, then Remus grabs Cass and Marlene and finally Lily pulls Peter to his feet and then everyone is dancing and laughing. At the end of each song, they switch partners and eventually, after a particularly energetic number where James and Sirius have had everyone in stitches, Sirius grabs Hermione and pulls her close to him. She links her arms around his neck and he grabs her ass, lifting her up and linking her legs around his waist. Across the room, Remus and Cass are cuddled together, James and Lily are making out against a wall while Peter, Alice and Marlene are still jumping around like crazy people, laughing hysterically.
"I can always count on you to cheer us up," Sirius whispers to her. "Thank you, Mi."
"You don't have to thank me," Hermione says. "But I do need to go."
"Okay," Sirius says. "You sure I can't come with you?"
"Nope," Hermione says. "I'm a big girl and I can do this myself."
"Fine," Sirius says. "Give me a kiss then." Hermione leans in and kisses him deeply, clinging onto him tightly. "I'll wait up for you," he says. "Good luck."
"Thank you," she says, jumping down and kissing him once more before she hurries across the room, steals the invisibility cloak out of James's bag and leaves. She walks down to the classroom quickly and pulls the cloak off as she gets inside.
"Is that an Invisibility Cloak?" Avery says, sounding vaguely interested for the first time ever.
"Yes," Hermione says, folding it neatly and putting it down on the desk. "Did you get your…errands done?"
"Yes, thank you," Avery says. "Are you ready to begin?"
"Yeah, definitely," Hermione says. "Where do we start?"
"Maybe with you telling me what word you want to learn and why?" Avery says coolly.
"Sorry but 'and why' was not part of the deal," Hermione says. "I need you to teach me the word 'open'."
"Open?" Avery says. "What are you trying to open, Granger?"
"It's none of your business," Hermione says coldly. "Are you going to help me or not?"
"I suppose," Avery says icily.
"Hey," Hermione whispers as she shakes Sirius gently. "Come on, sweetheart, you should go to bed."
"Oh hey," Sirius says sleepily. "You're back. How was it?" He pulls her onto his lap; automatically his arms slide around her and she cuddles him happily.
"Fine," Hermione says. "I think I'll need to see him once more but I'm definitely almost there."
"Good job," Sirius says. "Can we talk about a couple of things?"
"Of course," Hermione says. "What's wrong?"
"No, nothing's wrong," he says, stroking her hair reassuringly. "I just…basically, every year my parents throw this party on Boxing Day called the Blood Ball." Hermione pulls a face of disgust and Sirius nods, continuing, "I know, I know, it's terrible, but it's actually quite fun normally. Everybody who is anybody is invited, so Avery will be there, Nott, Bellatrix, Narcissa, all the Slytherins to be honest, and then James's family is always invited, so his parents will go together and I think this year Lily will finally agree to go with him. Cass's family is invited and she'll take Remus, Alice will go with Frank and normally Marlene and I go together as friends but this year she's said that she'll go with Peter so that I can take you…if you want?"
"That sounds lovely, Sirius, thank you for asking me," Hermione says, leaning in and kissing him softly. She runs her hand through the hair on the back of his neck as she waits for him to continue.
"Also, I know it's a couple of weeks yet, but James and I were thinking maybe you could come and stay at his for Christmas?" Sirius says nervously. "I'll be there and obviously, you and James are really close and it will be fun."
"Sirius, I-" she begins, but he interrupts her, wriggling nervously in his seat.
"Plus, like, I know I'm never gonna get to meet your parents and you almost certainly don't want to meet mine but James's mum and dad have been good to me and it would mean a lot if you would come and meet them and spend some time with them," he says sincerely. "Like they've done more for me than my parents ever did and I think you'd like them?"
"Sirius," she tries again, but he stops her again, fidgeting badly now.
"Besides which, you can't spend Christmas alone," he says. "That would be terrible and where else are you going to go, Hermione, I just think-"
"Sirius," she says, grabbing his face and forcing him to look at her. "I would love to come. Thank you so much for asking me."
"Oh, thank Merlin," he says, leaning in and kissing her hungrily.
"Did you really think I wasn't going to say yes?" she laughs as he lifts her and throws her down onto the couch, climbing on top of her.
"Shut up," he says, leaning in and kissing her neck. She moans in appreciation, tugging at the base of his t-shirt and yanking it over his head. "Watch the hair," he protests, patting it back in place.
"Really?" she laughs. "You're more interested in your hair than in getting my clothes off?"
"No, definitely not," he laughs, pulling her jumper and vest off in one swift movement and grinning at her bra. "You are the sexiest person alive I swear to Merlin."
"You sure that's not you?" she teases, reaching round behind her and whipping off her bra.
"No, you're right, it's definitely me," he jokes, fumbling with the button on her jeans. "But you're a close second. Damn these are tight."
"Merlin," he pants as she collapses on top of him. "That was definitely worth the wait."
"Tell me about it," Hermione says, rolling to laze beside him. "I think we should-"
Before she can finish her sentence, there is the sound of footsteps on the stairs and James enters the room. "You guys are being so loud," he hisses, not even batting an eyelid at their nudity.
"Sorry James," Hermione says, getting to her feet and grinning at him
"I refuse to believe he's that good in bed," James says, leaning against the wall.
"Have you slept with him?" Hermione asks boldly.
"No," James says coolly.
"Maybe you should," Hermione suggests. "Then you'd know for sure."
"I'm up for it anytime you are," Sirius says, winking at James and catching the boxers Hermione tosses him.
"I'll keep that in mind," James smirks. "Mi, did Sirius ask you about Christmas?"
"Yes, he did," Hermione says, stepping into her thong. "Thank you so much for inviting me, James – I'd love to come."
"Awesome," James says. "Right, I'm going to bed. Love you both."
"Love you," Sirius and Hermione say in unison.
"Have a shower before you go to bed, Sirius," James says, disappearing up the stairs.
"I need one too," Hermione says, putting her bra on and picking up the rest of her clothes. "I'll see you in the morning, Sirius."
"Sure," Sirius says, leaning in and kissing her once more. "Night babe."