For a moment, after the door slammed, they stayed still in their embrace. Sirius's muscled arm held Hermione firmly against his chest, and his mouth had softened to a gentler kiss. Confused, Hermione began to react in kind, then quickly came to her senses and shoved him off her.
'What the hell?', she demanded in a whisper, ever conscious of the portrait of Walburga Black that lay sleeping behind heavy drapes.
'Sorry, sorry,' Sirius held up his free hand in a sign of peace. 'There's a reporter from The Prophet, he's been outside all day, Kingsley said to give him a show...you know to add credence to the fairy tale love story'.
Slightly mollified, Hermione absent-mindedly wiped her lips with the back of her hand, then stopped when she caught Sirius's look of annoyance.
'I'm not that repulsive am I?' he whispered, slightly hurt, as he led her down the corridor, trunk in hand towards the kitchen.
'No, but your breath tastes of Firewhiskey and cigarettes.' she admonished, still slightly shaken at having had her personal space invaded so thoroughly.
Sirius shrugged nonchalant. 'We've all got to die sometime,' he reasoned before throwing open the door to reveal the small group gathered within.
'Ah, Hermione, there you are,' Kingsley called from the head of the table, where Remus, Tonks and Luna Loovegood were also sitting.
'We're just organising the wedding,' Tonks said by way of explanation for the parchment strewn table as Hermione took a relieved seat beside her. 'The wedding of the heir to The Most Ancient and Noble House of Black must be a grandiose affair,' the metamorphmagus continued in an exasperated voice, with a dark look at Kingsley.
'Indeed it must,' as ever Kingsely's tone was low, deep and reassuring – and Hermione found herself relaxing as he explained the progress that had been made since she had left last night.
'Your Assessment interview is scheduled for tomorrow morning at 10 a.m, on the third floor in The Ministry. Umbridge herself will be personally interviewing you, so try to look in love – and sober,' he directed the comment to Sirius, who was idly refilling his glass. The Maurader grinned; 'I'm just adding to authenticity – I can pretend the hangover's from my stag-do,' he quipped.
Kingsley scowled, but continued; 'I've versed Sirius on the story you're telling – you've been having a secret affair for the past year, when Proclamation 2.0.2 was made public, you decided that it was a sign, and instantly got engaged. You couldn't bear the thought of either of you being forced to marry anyone else,' he finished dryly.
'Snape's brewed an antidote for veritaserum,' Luna added quickly, seeing the dubious look on Hermione's face.
Relieved, Hermione gave a huge grin, 'Phew – ', she glanced jokingly at Sirius, 'I doubt either of us could pull it off without it.'
Sirius just raised his eyebrows, and sullenly downed another glass of Firewhiskey – leaving Hermione to anxiously wonder if her first act as his wife wouldn't be committing him to the rehabilitation unit at St. Mungo's.