Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

A/N: So here's the next chapter - I hope it's all right, I'm still getting back into writing again after being ill so I'm not too sure how this is :) Hope you enjoy it though. Also, thanks to everyone for the continuing support of this fic even though I stopped posting for a while!

Chapter 11: Not Fifteen

Bacon sizzled in the frying pan, occasionally flipping itself, as Hermione uncorked a hangover potion and drank it as quickly as she could. Andromeda Tonks had left with Teddy at roughly 5pm yesterday as she occasionally did. Between then and bedtime Harry, Remus, Sirius and herself had somehow managed to consume two bottles of firewhiskey and three bottles of wine. The throbbing in her head was starting to recede thanks to the potion but it didn't dampen the need to cram her face with bacon sandwiches.

Hermione flicked her wand at the bread to stack it neatly on a plate that she placed on the middle of the table. Hermione looked up as Remus hobbled into the kitchen in his pyjamas with his dressing gown hanging off his shoulders like he'd forgotten how to dress himself.

"I think I might be dying," he croaked as he slumped into a chair.

"Here," Hermione replied as she slid a hangover potion across the table to him.

"Ugh, almost as bad as wolfsbane," Remus said after downing the potion. "Is that bacon?" He inquired looking slightly brighter.

"Mmhmm," she replied with a smile as she sat at the table.

"Thank Merlin," he replied as he folded his arms and placed his head on them gingerly.

Harry yawned as he entered the kitchen and despite his dishevelled appearance Hermione thought he looked happier in himself. "How you feeling?" Hermione asked as Harry sat down next to Remus.

"Not too bad considering the amount we drank," he replied with a grin. "Is that bacon?"

"Yeah," she answered with a smile. "So, has it sunk in that Sirius is back yet?"

"No," Harry said as he summoned a glass of orange juice. "I woke up this morning wondering if it had actually happened."

"It must feel good though, knowing he's back," Hermione commented as she placed tomato ketchup and mustard on the table.

"You have no idea," Harry replied with a tired but broad grin.

"Speaking of Padfoot, is he awake yet?" Remus asked, his voice muffled by the arms cocooning his head.

"I heard him moving around," Harry replied.

Hermione left Harry and Remus to their sleepy conversation as she pottered around the kitchen. Tea brewing, she took the opportunity to scribble a letter to Kingsley requesting that she be informed if any there were any developments in the murder and kidnapping inquiry at the ministry but requested the next few days off to adjust to Sirius' return and finish off her written report. Letter addressed and sent off with an owl she poured herself an inhumanely large, sweet cup of tea and leant against the kitchen counter.

"Gooooooood moooorning!" Sirius half-exclaimed, half-sang as he sauntered into the room in a pair of pyjama bottoms. "How are we all feeling?" He asked with a smirk on his lips as he observed Remus. "Is that bacon?" Sirius inquired sniffing the air and looking hopefully around.

"No, it's rice pudding," Hermione replied as she dished the bacon onto a plate and sent it over to the table.

"I didn't see you being any good at playing the little housewife, Hermione," Sirius said cheekily as he buttered some bread and stuffed it with bacon.

"She's not," Remus replied as Hermione seated herself at the table.

"Could've fooled me," Sirius murmured appreciatively through a mouthful of sandwich.

"No really, Hermione can cook bacon and toast but that's it. Anything else will either give you food poisoning or be unidentifiable, possibly both," Remus said with a shrug and an apologetic look in Hermione's direction.

"I'm not that bad," Hermione scoffed as she spread some mustard on her bread.

"Yes, you are," Harry said. "I was close to becoming a permanent feature on my toilet after you tried to cook lasagne, I wish I hadn't been polite and eaten it," Harry reminisced ruefully.

Sirius roared with laughter and began making himself another sandwich. "Well Granger, if it's any consolation you can make me a bacon butty any day," Sirius said as he chuckled to himself.

Before Hermione could respond she saw an owl land on the windowsill. "Paper," She said and got up to pay the owl. As she sat back down she flipped open the front page and sighed. "There've been more disappearances," she said. Harry and Remus gave her meaningful looks.

"Am I missing something here? I thought you'd already defeated the death eaters." Sirius asked as he poured everyone tea.

"So did we until just before Hermione went missing," Harry replied.

"What happened?"

Hermione zoned out as she turned the page of the paper, not wanting to hear about disembowelling and severed hands over breakfast. "Oh Sirius, your return made page two," She said conversationally.

"Well, it's a step down from front page news but then again I'm not a convicted murderer on the run this time, you win some you lose some," he said with a shrug.

"Hear listen to this: 'Famed Wizard Returns from Grave: Sirius Black, famous for his false conviction as a death eater responsible for the death of James and Lily Potter, has returned five years after his death in the Department of Mysteries. Unspeakables have not been able to reveal the circumstances of his return to the Prophet, however it is believed to be linked to research being conducted by Miss Hermione Granger (Order of Merlin, first class).'"

"How respectful," Sirius said happily. "Not a single use of the word traitor or abomination," he continued smugly.

"Well done, Sirius," Remus said wryly, "You're moving up in the world."

Hermione scanned the next page. Her eyes widened as she read the headline.

"That BITCH!" She shrieked and slammed the paper onto the table, squashing half her bacon sandwich.

"What?" The others asked in unison.

"Look at this," she hissed and pushed the paper into the middle of the table for the three men to read. Her eyes couldn't stop darting across the article, reading the utterly ridiculous words.

GOLDEN GIRL OR GRAVEROBBER?

By Rita Skeeter

Miss Hermione Granger, one-third of the Golden Trio, has graced this reporter's articles for her debauched love life more than Stubby Boardman, lead singer of the Hobgoblins. However, has Miss Granger outdone herself in this recent scandal?

After breaking Harry Potter's heart through her romance with Bulgarian bon-bon Viktor Krum, having a brief romance with Potter's best friend and keeper of the Chudley Canons Ron Weasley, and several other lovers including Oliver Wood and Cormak McLaggen, one would think that Miss Granger had created enough scandal for a lifetime.

However, it now seems that she has moved on from famous quidditch stars to darker and more mature objects of affection.

The photo enclosed below shows Miss Granger and the once notorious Sirius Black in St Mungo's yesterday. What interest would a young, ambitious, and allegedly attractive witch want with an ex-convict presumed dead until today? Well, I believe that as she unsuccessfully attempted many times before, Miss Granger hopes to extort the fortune of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black, having no pureblood fortune of her own.

So, is Miss Granger really deserving of that Order of Merlin and the recognition that comes with being the Golden Girl of the war against You-Know-Who? Or is she simply a gold-digging grave robber preying on an attractive but confused man?

"Sirius this isn't funny!" Hermione shouted, as Sirius rolled around in his seat with laughter.

"That is fucking hilarious," he laughed.

"In fairness Hermione, he has a point," Harry said with the sound of a suppressed laugh on his voice.

"It bloody well isn't!"

"Hermione, it's just a piece of gossip – no one will listen to it," Remus said in an attempt to placate her.

"What like when I was swamped in hate mail during fourth year after all those lies she spread?" Hermione fumed.

"Well… things have changed?" He offered weakly.

"I don't even know what that woman has against me," Hermione snapped.

"You did expose her as an illegal animagus," Harry said with a shrug.

"And trap her in a jar," Sirius added enthusiastically.

Hermione scowled.

"Ah, come on Hermione, see the funny side. The idea of you trying to scam me out of my fortune by seducing me is so laughable I nearly choked on my sandwich!" Sirius sniggered.

Hermione flushed a deeper red. "What's so funny about that Sirius Black?" She raged. "The fact that I'm a woman and not some frigid block of ice capable of even performing a seduction or the fact that the great Sirius Black could ever succumb to it?"

"Hermione – that's not what I -"

"Well, I'll have you know that I've seduced plenty of men successfully, believe it or not!" She fumed before kicking her chair away and storming out.

She briefly heard Harry moan in embarrassment as she left. Not that she cared, she was sick of Ronald and everyone who knew her assuming that just because she was intelligent and cared about things other than clothes, make-up, and men that she had absolutely no desires like a normal woman of her age. Conversely it upset her that the rest of the wizarding population either believed that or believed she'd somehow shagged her way to an Order of Merlin.

Hermione stomped into her room and took a deep breath. Time for a shower, a change of clothes, and finishing her report on the Veil.

Several hours later, Hermione wrote the final sentence of her report and placed her quill down with a sigh. The library had been blissfully quiet and had soothed her agitated mood. Picking up her books she went to replace them on the shelves only to turn around at the sound of footsteps.

"Hermione?" Sirius called tentatively as he stepped into the library. He looked abashed as he shuffled in and sat on one of the armchairs.

"Oh, hello," she replied sheepishly.

"You okay?" He asked, running a hand through his hair.

"Yes," she said. "I'm sorry about earlier –"

"No, I'm sorry," he interrupted. "Honestly, I still haven't quite managed to place the woman who dragged me out of the Veil with the girl called Hermione Granger. It wasn't a slight on you what I said earlier, I was just responding to the idea that a fifteen year old girl would be capable of what Skeeter wrote."

"It's okay Sirius," Hermione said, shuffling her books awkwardly.

"I suppose I've got some adjusting to do," He sighed.

Hermione bent down to put the books on the lower shelf of books.

"Hermione!" Sirius exclaimed.

She whipped around. "What?"

"Are you… are you wearing a thong?" Sirius asked with a cheeky grin.

"Uh…" Hermione pulled up her jeans self-consciously.

"Well," he said wide-eyed. "You're certainly not fifteen anymore."

"Sirius!" Remus called up the stairs. "Harry and I are back with Teddy and Andromeda!"

"I should go downstairs," Sirius said and exited the library swiftly.

Hermione stood flabbergasted as she watched the wizard leave the library, trying desperately to stop the blush spreading over her face. She wasn't sure what was more embarrassing, the fact that Sirius had noticed her underwear or the fact that she didn't mind.

A/N: Please review :D