Howdy! (Yes, howdy. I am from TX after all.) Had so much fun writing this one, felt like it wrote itself a bit. lol.
Muchas gracias to : DeadDelta, Raven that flies at night, Lily Anne Rose, xXMizz Alec VilturiXx, and Guest. Especially to Raven and Mizz Alec, who are the most consistent reviewer of all time. You all make my heart happy and I thank you. =)
DeadDelta: Don't worry about Peter, I didn't forget about him. I'm sure he'll be showing up more as we go...
Sirius' birthday was the seventh of October. He was quite excited for the day this year since it fell on a Friday; perfect timing for an all-out, tower shaking party.
James and Sirius ordered the food and drinks from the Three Broom Sticks and had it picked up and delivered by the Hogwarts house elves, and Sirius made sure to be polite and appreciative toward Hokey this time. Remus, Peter and Lily informed the rest of the Gryffindors they were all invited to the festivities and encouraged them to come hungry. Hermione sat and smiled as she observed her friends going about preparing the common room; it was soon going to be overflowing with students and she couldn't imagine everyone in Gryffindor being able to fit in the same room. But Hermione chuckled to herself; she was a witch after all and did attend a magical school, who knew what was possible.
When all the breakables were hidden away, sofas strategically placed and buffet tables set up and spelled to continue refilling until midnight; it was time to celebrate. The common room began to fill with fellow Gryffindors, all congratulating and sending well wishes to Sirius.
Hermione was perched on one of the window bench seats, observing the happy gathering from afar. She felt a little detached from the event; the feeling that she wasn't meant to be in this time had been weighting on her more than usual since she had revealed the timeline to Remus and Sirius.
Hermione hugged her knees a bit as she witnessed Lily give Sirius a huge hug; their relationship had finally become friendly since James and Lily had officially begun dating. Sirius was pleased to discover that Evans had a mischievous steak as well, and they had finally bonded and become friends.
James embraced his best friend next and Hermione witnessed him sneak Sirius a wrapped gift that looked suspiciously like a bottle. Lily began to protest, but James seemed to assure her that the package was strictly for Sirius and it would not be shared. But Hermione would have sworn she saw the messy haired boy wink at Sirius as he ushered his girlfriend toward the food.
With Sirius distracted by the ever growing throng of people in the common room, Hermione lost sight of him. She shifted her attention to the grounds beyond the windowpane and observed the shadows moving around Hagrid's hut. Hermione wished so much that she could visit the half giant; but she knew first hand that Hagrid was not good at keeping secrets.
"You're not one for large gatherings, are you?" Hermione as surprised to find Peter taking a seat next to her on the bench.
She spared a small smile and shook her head, "No, not particularly. Are you?"
"Not really, but it's difficult to not get caught up in the celebration when it's for such a good friend," Peter offered her an unopened Butterbeer as he look a long sip of his own bottle.
Hermione knew that right now Peter was supposed to still be good, but the kind action still slightly shocked her, "Thanks. Do they do this every year for Sirius' birthday?"
"Yea. Sirius loves birthdays; he thinks everyone should have something like this, but James is really the only other one of us who seems to thrive with all the attention," Peter seemed to shrink back a little as he spoke.
"Well, I agree more with you and Remus then. I can't handle all the attention," Hermione offered. "Maybe you, Remus and I can have a shared party for all of our birthdays. That way we can divide the attention."
Peter sat up a little straighter as he thought about this plan, "That could be nice. Just our closest friends; included in a trio…" His face brightened considerably as the image came together in his head. "…That would be nice."
Hermione extended her hand, "It's a deal then? As soon as we ask Remus."
Peter appeared so surprised to be incorporated in a pact, that it actually made Hermione feel depressed for him. She previously hypothesized that Voldemort had simply scared and beaten Wormtail into serving him, but she was now afraid it might have had a bit to do with the other Marauders' unintentional thoughtlessness toward him.
Peter took her hand and smiled brightly, "Deal."
The crowd around Sirius was finally thinning as the guests gathered food and drink and found places to eat. Sirius was talking to Charlie Andrews, one of the sixth year boys; when a stunning witch, long black hair billowing behind her, glided across the room and demanded the Marauder's attention. She draped herself over Sirius' shoulder and began whispering into his ear.
Hermione's mouth fell open mid-sentence. Peter peered over and found what had struck the witch mute, "Ah, Arabella Fairfax. She's the only person I've ever met who flaunts that she's a half-blood. Her mother is from one of the twenty-eight pureblood families but married some Duke from England; so Arabella views herself as royalty in both worlds. A bit daft if you ask me; not sure how she was sorted into Gryffindor."
Peter chuckled, "You know he really likes you, Amelia. Never dated a girl longer than a week or two before you came along." They looked on as the tall, voluptuous witch pressed herself further into Sirius' side as she continued whispering.
Hermione and Peter began laughing as Sirius' smile fell and he began openly searching the room with a desperate look in his eyes.
"I think he's hoping you'll save him," Peter mused as he leaned back against the window pain and crossed his arms in amusement.
Hermione shifted over so she sat directly next to Peter; she was quite enjoying his company and knew that she still needed to find a way to save him. "Maybe I should let him sweat a bit more," she took a measured sip from her almost finished Butterbeer.
The Marauder next to her offered his bottle to toast and they clinked glasses, "To Padfoot."
Hermione laughed wholeheartedly, "To Padfoot. Who I'm sure could save himself if he thought to mention he had a …"
"…a girlfriend?" Peter questioned.
"Yes, well…I think we…I mean I'm not sure…we haven't exactly…" Hermione sputtered as she attempted to explain something that still had not been declared outright.
"Perhaps, that's why Padfoot looks so helpless?" Hermione nodded to Peter, acknowledging his keen conclusion. He took Hermione's empty Butterbeer as she stocked off toward her stranded…boyfriend?
Sirius smiled with relief as his eyes finally found Hermione's, "Her…Mia, there you are. I told you she was around here somewhere, Ari."
"Hermia, did you transfer from Greece or something?" Arabella's sharp blue eyes scanned Hermione up and down. She obviously didn't view Hermione as much competition, because she returned to whispering into Sirius' ear without a second thought.
Sirius tried to slip Arabella off of his shoulder and arm, but she just repositioned herself again.
Hermione noticed that Sirius was slightly wobbly on his feet; he must have snuck some of James' gift. She narrowed her eyes at Sirius but decided to save him anyway.
"Confundo," Hermione said under her breath as she covered her mouth and coughed.
Arabella stood straight up, blinked her eyes repeatedly and shook her head; she then looked at Hermione, her face completely devoid of emotion.
Hermione smiled sweetly and quietly suggested, "I think I heard your friends calling after you, why don't you go join them?"
"Oh, of course. What a wonderful idea," Arabella wandered away from Sirius and rejoined her sixth year dorm mates.
Sirius' mouth dropped open as he glanced between Hermione and Arabella, "Did you…you just…used Confundus…where is your wand?" Thankfully Sirius was sober enough to speak all of these words under his breath.
Hermione felt a little heat spread over her cheeks, Harry had been the only person to know about her wandless magic until now, "Um, I think it's upstairs actually." She shrugged her shoulders and began to make her way back to the window seat.
Sirius snaked his arms around Hermione's waist as she walked away; pulling her back tight against his chest. A few Griffyndors looked up from their own conversations to observe the scene; Hermione began to take in short breathes as she became more nervous.
"Please Sirius," Hermione turned and spoke in a barely audible tone, "People are staring. Please stop."
"They all know that we're…" Sirius furrowed his brow trying to find the correct word to use.
Hermione spun around in his embrace and held tightly to his arms, "They all know that we what, are dating? That we're together?" A sad smile formed on her lips, "I don't want to ruin your party with this conversation, so please let me go. We can talk later when you have a bit less alcohol in you."
Sirius reluctantly released Hermione and sadly gazed after her as she walked away.
James came to the rescue with a Butterbeer and an announcement of birthday cake. Everyone's attention shifted now to the giant maroon and gold, Gryffindor emblem cake that had just materialized at the center of the buffet table.
Hermione found Peter in the crowd; she hugged him tightly and thanked him for the lovely company before she disappeared upstairs to her dorm room. She was completely uncomfortable with the scene that had unfolded with Arabella and Sirius. And Hermione was even more mortified that she had used magic on a fellow student; reveling her wandless magic, even though it was limited, was reckless of her too.
Hermione fell back onto her comforter and stared at the crimson canopy of her four post bed. "What on earth am I doing here? What am I doing with Sirius?"
"Well, according to James and Sirius, you're avoiding him," the gentle but firm voice of Lily wafted in from the hallway. The red head walked straight into the dorm and stood, crossed armed and wearing a critical expression, in front of Hermione's bed.
Hermione didn't even bother moving her eyes in the other girl's direction, "Hi Lily."
Lily dropped her arms but her stern expression remained, "Mia, please tell me what's going on. I refuse to only have Sirius' side of the story." She pushed Hermione over so that there was room for her to lie down on the bed as well.
"Don't worry about me Lil. Go back to the party." Hermione attempted a smile, but her mouth barely curved upward.
"No." Lily's stubbornness was relentless, "I'm not leaving until we talk."
There were a few minutes of utter silence before Hermione finally relented. "There are a few things that somehow piled on top of one another tonight and I felt like I was suffocating under all of them."
"And what are these things that are suffocating you?" Lily asked without an ounce of judgement in her voice.
"Well, I don't handle large gatherings very well. Actually, I hate them; I get flustered and uncomfortable and never know what to say."
Lily nodded understandingly, "Happens to the best of us."
Hermione covered her forehead with her palm as she continued, "I think …I was incredibly jealous when that sixth year wrapped herself around Sirius. And I'm completely livid that he couldn't shake her off." She paused briefly before admitting, "And what made me even more irritated was the fact that we haven't exactly clarified what we are anyway. We're obviously dating…but is that all?"
Lily snorted. "I'm sorry. That wasn't funny."
The red haired witch quickly composed herself, "No, you two are not just dating. But you wouldn't know that since you weren't here while Sirius 'dated' during his other years here."
"What are you on about?" Hermione finally turned her head to look at Lily; she wore a small smile and took Hermione's hand to squeeze it comfortingly.
"Sirius' definition of 'dating' is charm a girl for a week or two, snog her senseless and then move on. But with you…" Lily's smile broadened, "With you. Sirius can't seem to stop talking about you. It's been over a month now and he still looks at you like you're the only girl in the whole castle."
Lily sat up and pulled Hermione to sit up next to her, "He's not looking for someone to move onto. Sirius is down stairs right now, moping over the fact that his almost girlfriend disappeared from his birthday party."
Hermione smiled in spite of herself, "Well, I knew Sirius thought of himself as an eternal bachelor when we met, I guess I need to be more patient with him."
"Merlin no," Lily snorted again. "You need to confront this and make him figure it out with you. But I refuse to let my best friend sit up here depressed because Sirius is acting like a wanker."
"I'm your best friend?" Hermione felt her stomach perform a flip; was it ok that she was becoming so close to her future best friend's mother?
"Well, I'm sorry to inform you, but you have to be my best friend." Lily stated matter-of-factly as her whole face brightened, "You're the only ally I have to rein in the Marauders."
The two witches made their way back down stairs. It was almost eleven thirty now and the party was beginning to die down. The Marauders and a few of the other seventh year boys were seated around a recently conjured table playing a card game.
Lily nudged Hermione toward Sirius before she conjured her own chair and sat down next to James.
"What are you blokes playing?" Lily asked as she glanced around the green, oval shaped table.
"Finn says that this is a muggle game called poker, but I'm starting to think he's just conning us out of our money," James answered with an accusing glare at the carrot top boy that was seated across from him.
Lily chuckled softly, "No James, it's a real game. My father plays sometimes with his mates from school."
"Well, can you play for me then? I feel like I'm just giving galleons away right now," James threw up his hands in frustration as Lily took his cards and began whispering to him behind her hand.
Hermione noticed that Remus, Peter and two other boys had already folded; but Sirius was still staring intently at the cards in his hand. Sirius look vexed as he glared at his cards. Hermione noticed that there was a large glass of water by his chip pile; she frowned a little thinking that she might have been too harsh toward him earlier. But when Sirius looked up and found her staring at him, his Cheshire smile took over his face.
"Hello again, Blondie," Sirius motioned for her over to him, "Will you help me with this, I'm completely confused?"
Hermione hunched over so that her eyes were level with the cards he was showing her. She quietly explained the value of the cards in his hands and asked Finn which version of poker they were playing.
"It's Texas Holdem. My aunt on my mother's side married an American," the fair faced boy chuckled, "Got my Da obsessed with it. He claims to have hooked a few of his coworkers at the ministry as well."
Hermione quickly analyzed the cards again and suggested that Sirius match the bet on the table and wait for the first three cards to be dealt before he decided anything else. She whispered an explanation about the turn, the flop and the river cards; Sirius nodded in response after each clarification.
"Oh, do you want me to conjure you a chair?" Sirius asked as he noticed her uncomfortable position.
"Um, no…actually…" Hermione glanced at Lily and then Peter for a second; pulling some encouragement from their earlier conversations with her.
Hermione took Sirius' cards out of his hands, walked around and lightly plopped down on his lap. She noticed Peter elbow Remus; they looked up and both smirked at the couple. Hermione fanned out the two cards in her hands and leaned over to explain what Sirius should do next in the betting round.
"This is completely unfair. Black and Potter both have muggle blood helping them," Finn teased as he took a swig of Butterbeer.
"Shut it Abbot," Sirius chuckled as he placed a protective hand on Hermione's hip; he didn't want her to go anywhere.
They played for another hour before the boys began to tire themselves out from the adrenaline of playful bickering. By this time, Hermione had helped Sirius win a few hands and was now comfortably seated across both his legs and leaned into his chest.
Hermione nodded off before the end of the last hand.
"Yea, yea…take your winnings Finn, just keep it down." Hermione heard Sirius through a groggy cloud. "I'll kick your arse next time anyway."
"Whatever you say, Black. No pretty witches helping next time though." Finn and the rest of the seventh year boys stomped up the stairs. Hermione felt Sirius' silent laughter; he was trying hard to restrain himself so that he didn't wake her.
James and Lily whispered 'goodnight' as they stepped off to the side to say their own 'sweet dreams' to each other.
Sirius picked Hermione up in his arms with relative ease. He gently placed her on one of the common room sofas and sat down on the floor next to her.
Hermione opened her eyes and smiled up into his soft grey eyes.
"Hello again," Sirius mirrored her smile. He tucked a loose strand of Hermione's blonde hair behind her ear. "I'm sorry about before, can we talk about it?"
"We don't have to; not right this second," Hermione closed her eyes again but her smile lingered.
"Could we go to the sitting room tonight and… talk?"
Hermione lifted her eyelids a fraction to see what kind of expression Sirius was wearing. "What sort of talking do you think you'll get out of me?" she asked suspiciously.
Sirius attempted to look innocent, "Just words, I swear." He paused briefly and leaned in so that James and Lily had no chance of overhearing, "Maybe some snogging if I behave myself. It is my birthday after all." He captured Hermione's mouth in a soft kiss before leaning back and just gazing at her.
The kiss woke Hermione up a bit, and she stood and extended her hand down to the handsome boy seated on the floor. "Come on then," she whispered, "before I wake up fully and come to my senses."
They crept toward the portrait hole, keeping as quiet as possible so that James and Lily didn't glance in their direction.
"Oi! Where are you two off to?"
"Kitchen."
"Astronomy tower."
Sirius and Hermione began to sprint down the corridor.
Hehe, I really hope you all had a blast reading this nice long chapter.
As always, please Favorite, Follow and REVIEW! I would really love to grow my review count and get some feedback, so if you could take a minute to let me know what you think... I'd love you forever!
Love,
Misha