Hey there! My car won't start so I can't go to work, soooooooo you all get a new chapter a day or two early! I'm pretty sure you all are going to LOVE this chapter as much as I do. But I would really appreciate hearing what you think in the reviews if you take a minute to post! PLEASE?
As always, a HUGE thank you and hugs to xXMizz Alec VolturiXx, windyshoes, Desperate4more, Raven that flies at night, and Guest. You all have amazingly kind hearts and I'm so happy that you're enjoying the story!
Desperate3more: In my mind Hermione is already extremely tentative about changing the future that she is actually informed and familiar with, so the idea of changing future things that she has no idea about might be terrifying to her and could possibly cause catastrophic outcomes. I'm hoping that might come across a bit better next chapter.
Sunday night, Madame Pomfrey discharged Hermione from the infirmary. She was strong enough to walk without assistance now, but her arm was still sore from the break. Hermione walked out of the hospital to find Professor McGonagall happily awaiting her. She hugged her 'aunt' as best she could with only one fully functional arm.
They turned and slowly walk down the hall; arms linked. Hermione told McGonagall about the scene with Sirius the night before, and how she had agreed to a date with him. "Just be careful dear. He is a good person at heart, but he has a very long unruly streak." They also caught up on how Hermione's other classes were going from the previous week; Hermione realized how much she missed their late night discussions.
Too soon, they were standing in front of the Fat Lady and saying 'goodnight.'
"Make sure you rest your arm dear. Oh, and I probably won't see you tomorrow since you have double potions and that Ancient Runes essay so let me give this to you now. Maybe we can celebrate next Sunday and you can tell me all about your date with Mr. Black," Minerva produced a small square box from her robes. It was wrapped in pink and purple flowered paper and had a little white bow on the top of it.
"Wait, what day is it?" Hermione racked her brain trying to remember the date.
McGonagall laughed, "Don't tell me you forgot your own birthday?"
She smiled sheepishly. "Well, I was cursed yesterday and broke my arm…" Hermione jokingly gestured to her sling before she ripped the pretty paper. She opened the box to find her great-grandmothers necklace; it looked brand new. "Oh my God, I thought it was broken by the spell…like the timeturner was?"
"It was. It was badly scorched as well, but I had a goblin specialist take a look at it and he was able to restore it completely. Even the picture of your parents was repaired. And I hope it's alright, but I took the liberty of also placing a picture of your 'adopted' parents on the other side of the locket." McGonagall opened the oval locket and pointed to the picture of Hermione's own parents on one side and then a picture of a young couple holding a tiny blonde baby on the other side.
"Thank you Aunt Minerva. It's absolutely perfect," Hermione hugged McGonagall very tightly. The professor returned the hug just as intensely, but then hurried Hermione through the portrait before either of them could begin to cry.
Hermione placed the locket around her neck and under her shirt as she entered the busy common room. She nervously touched her shirt to confirm that the locket was securely in place several times. Hermione tried to make her way to the girls' dormitories but was halted every few steps by her fellow Gryffindors asking how she was feeling. She had just been stopped by a very talkative fifth year girl, when someone stepped behind her and wrapped an arm protectively around her waist, "Sorry love, but Blondie has a study date with me tonight. You'll have to ask your questions later." Sirius flashed a toothy grin at the young girl and she blushed furiously.
Hermione was relieved; she might not like being a damsel, but Sirius was very good at rescuing. He gave Hermione a tight squeeze and led her to a table by the window that the other Marauders and Lily were occupying. Sirius sat back into the cushions on the window seat as Lily jumped up and grasped Hermione in a constricting embrace.
"I'm so glad you're better. You had us all so worried," Lily didn't seem to want to let go. James laughed as he ushered Lily back into her chair.
"Glad to have you back in one piece Amelia," James nodded as he settled down beside Lily.
Peter smiled at her and politely asked about her broken arm. Hermione sat down on the bench to the right of Peter and directly next to Remus.
Remus placed his book down and hugged Hermione very securely with one arm. She leaned her head on to his shoulder automatically. "Sorry for worrying you Remus," Hermione whispered.
Hermione could feel a silent chuckle from his chest, "Well, let's try to stay out of trouble for more than a month next time?"
"Alright, I'll try." Hermione playfully pushed Remus' arms away. "Oh, that potion I was telling you about should be done tomorrow. Would you mind checking it with me later?"
"Yes of course," Remus answered in a seemingly uninterested tone. He handed her the Ancient Runes textbook without instruction and returned to his own reading.
The crowd in the common room thinned as midnight drew near. Hermione had slept a good portion of the day while recovering, so she stayed at the table and bid goodnight to her tired friends. Soon the only two people left were Hermione and Sirius.
Sirius was still observing her from his seat by the window. Hermione moved over to the vacated couch in front of the hearth and waved her wand, adding a few logs to fuel the dying fire. "Will you come keep me company?"
Hermione settled down in the middle of the couch and opened her book to her bookmarked page. She felt the cushion next to her shift as Sirius took a seat and draped his arm along the back of the couch. She angled herself so that she could lean her back against Sirius' side and rest her head in the crook of his shoulder. Hermione noticed that she seemed to fit perfectly beside him.
"Is that actually interesting?" Sirius inquired as he spied over Hermione's shoulder to examine her text book.
"It usually is, but I think I've read the same sentence five times now. You're very distracting Mr. Black." Hermione continued to force her mind to focus, but to no avail. She closed the book with an exasperated huff and placed it on the floor.
Sirius snickered as he encircled her waist with both arms and pulled her closer to himself. Hermione shut her eyes and reveled in the warmth of his embrace.
"Can I ask you something?" Sirius mumbled into her hair.
"What is it?" Hermione craned her neck to look at Sirius' face.
"Well, why do you fancy me? I told you all my observations of you; what have you to say about me?" Sirius laughed as he asked his question. He was clearly enjoying the time alone with her.
Hermione giggled as she settled back into her spot next to Sirius, "Well, let me think for a moment. You're very smart when you want to be. Fiercely loyal to your friends. You fight for what's right. Your mischievousness is endearing if you don't let it get out of hand. And you are quite handsome; though I'm sure you already knew that."
"And you're sure those are all good things, Blondie?" Sirius whispered in Hermione's ear.
"Yes, I promise they are." Hermione beamed back at him.
They stayed up for hours really learning about each other; favorite color, best holiday memory, worst fears. It was almost four-thirty in the morning when Hermione finally gave in to her fatigue and stated that they both needed to get some sleep. Sirius pouted a bit but agreed after a lengthy yawn escaped his mouth.
"Alright, last request 'Melia," Sirius murmured through another yawn. "Tell me a secret about yourself that you haven't told the others."
Hermione laughed softly in her tired state, "It's my birthday today."
Sirius was shocked by her secret and it sobered him a bit. Hermione stood on the landing before the girl's dormitory staircase; Sirius stepped in front of her, one level below. He shifted forward so that they were mere inches apart. Sirius lifted his hand and cupped Hermione's cheek; she leaned into his hand and smiled. Her sleepy state fogged her usual logic and sanity, allowing her to just enjoy the caring gesture.
Without another thought, Sirius brought their mouths together and he kissed her very gently. Just one light kiss; it felt over before it had even begun. Sirius pulled his head back and looked longingly at Hermione's beautiful, content face. He placed his forehead against hers and took a few heartbeats to relish in the moment.
"Happy Birthday."
"Amelia came in very late last night," Marlene whispered to Lily as they changed into their Gryffindor robes.
"Did she?" Lily perked up as she listened to her dorm mate.
"Well, I just heard in the bathroom that one of the second years got sick last night and had to go see Madame Pomfrey. She past Amelia on the stairs as she came up to bed at around five in the morning. But the really interesting bit was that the poor girl saw Sirius at the bottom of the stairs to the girls' dormitory, looking completely oblivious and smiling like an idiot. The girl wasn't sure if Sirius even noticed her as she walked past him!" Marlene spoke so quickly that Lily had difficulty understanding everything she said.
"Wait," Lily put both of her hands up in front of her, gesturing for Marlene to stop, "you're saying that Amelia was with Sirius all night? Sirius Black?"
Marlene nodded as she retrieved her school bag from the floor, "At least that's what the little second year is saying." Marlene dashed out of the dorm to get some breakfast.
Lily turned to face Hermione's closed off four post bed. She noisily flung the curtain open and bounced down on the bed waking her friend immediately. "Is everything alright? What's happened?" Hermione clutched her head and squinted into the sunrise streaming through one of the dorm windows.
"Well, I could ask you the same questions Amelia," Lily playfully retorted.
"I'm sorry, what?" Hermione wiped the sleep from her eyes and focused on the redhead in front of her.
Lily closed the curtains around the bed and began her interrogation. "Why did you go to bed so late last night?"
Hermione smiled before she could stop herself, "I'm not sure I know what you're talking about Lily." She threw the blanket off of herself and maneuvered to get out of bed.
"Oh, no you don't," Lily held Hermione in place with both arms. "You and Sirius; spill. Now."
Hermione tousled her hair a bit to hide her small grin from view. "Well there isn't much to tell. We talked until very early this morning and just got to know each other."
Lily narrowed her eyes in suspicion, "Yes, because talking is what stuns boys into dazed states of silence."
Hermione covered her face to mask the growing smile, "There might…we might have… well, we did kiss. But just once, it was nothing really."
"HA! I won!" Lily clapped her hands together and hugged her friend tightly before bouncing off the bed again. "Come on now, get dressed. I have winnings to collect."
"What are you on about Evans? You sound mad." Hermione quickly dressed and secured the locket under her uniform before the two girls descended the stairs. "What did you win exactly?"
"We had a bet going on when you and Sirius would finally stop dragging your feet and do something. Remus and Peter guessed sometime this weekend, maybe at Hogsmeade. But James and I bet on today. I said before breakfast, he said after; and so, I win!" Lily chatted away happily, telling Hermione of all the prattling that had gone on behind the scenes. "Remus was livid when James and I thought today would be it. I swear, I never would have guessed that Remus is an only child. He certainly has perfected the 'overprotective brother' quickly."
The girls laughed and gossiped all the way to the Great Hall. Lily took a seat and instantly stuck her hand out to James, Remus and Peter. They resentfully conceded one Galleon each into her outstretched palm. "Thank you very much for playing boys."
Hermione took the awaiting seat next to Sirius, "Did you know they had bets going on us?"
"No. But as soon as I woke up this morning I was questioned and then flogged by every pillow in the dorm room," Sirius took her hand under the table and entwined their fingers. "Oh, and Remus has said that if we're not careful he'll kill me."
Remus didn't even bother lifting his eyes from the book he was reading, "I said no such thing, Padfoot. I simply said 'break her heart, I break you.'" Remus glanced at Hermione and grinned slyly.
A smile played at Hermione's lips as she picked out some food for breakfast.
Eeeek! Lots of fun and interesting things to come. Please keep the Follows, Favorites, and Reviews coming. It's always so exciting to get the notification that someone has taken the time to comment on my little story.
Until next time friends!
Love, Misha