Chapter 12: The Comet

Friday, 30 September 1977

"Listen up class. Tonight we will all examine a comet passing the earth. As we have an abnormally large group of sixth and seventh years, I will divide you into two groups and in those groups, you will pair up. Others will be at the courtyard examining the comet with bare eyes, while others will be situated here, at the Astronomy Tower examining it through telescopes." Professor Moonshine explained to the seventh- and sixth-year NEWT students at the beginning of their Astronomy lesson.

"From the 29th of September to the 30th of September - as in yesterday and today - the comet will make a once-in-a-lifetime pass by Earth at a distance of around 70 million kilometres. It has a fourth magnitude brightness, so it means that it will be easily visible in the dark sky without the need of a telescope. But even though the comet is visible to the naked eye -"

Sirius, James and a few others were of course sniggering.

" - it looks even better through a telescope, so the reason of dividing the class is to have different aspects of the comet." The Professor explained, not giving any attention to the noise the boys were making. "So bear with me, I understand some of you are bummed out because your lesson is usually on Thursday evening, but now on Friday night instead, and therefore you miss your possible weekend pursuit. But I assure you, that it is worth it. Luckily, the comet will be passing near the Canis Major, the Great Dog constellation, which makes it relatively easy to find," he continued.

"Hey Prongs, want to hear a good one?" Sirius whispered, smirking behind James. James turned his head slightly to him so he could see Sirius from the corner of his eye, still sitting towards the Professor so Lily, who was next to him, wouldn't scold him for not listening to the Professor.

"Why didn't the Dog Star laugh at the joke?" Sirius asked quietly, still smirking. "…It was too Sirius." He grinned when James snorted.

Hermione rolled her eyes next to him. It was their usual behaviour at the Astronomy lessons - or so Hermione had concluded after the handful of Astronomy lessons they had had together. Sirius enjoyed making puns with his name and Astronomy was an optimal subject for that. Hermione often wondered if the only reason he had even chosen the subject in his sixth year was the opportunity to make bad jokes. Hermione reckoned that James had probably taken the class because Lily was there, since he didn't seem that interested in the course either. Though he had taken NEWT Astronomy even though he was with another girl last year so maybe he was into it, but still, Hermione doubted it.

Sirius nudged Hermione and smiled at her. "Want to go watch the comet with naked eye?" He asked playfully, grinning at her. Hermione gave him a faintly amused look and shook her head at him, nudging her head towards the Professor.

"... it takes around 14,000 years for this comet to orbit the Sun, which means that none of us are going to live long enough to see it pass by again. Now, divide into pairs and come to me after that to take your assignments..."

Hermione was paired with Sirius, while Lily paired with James. The Head students had been in friendly terms for a while now, clearly getting over the events in the start of term –party. Also, they had shared their Heads duties from the start of term and had been forced to spend time together, so Hermione assumed that that had helped matters as well. She silently hoped that their relationship was at last developing to beyond a friendly state and smiled at the thought that Harry's parents would soon be together. Thinking of Harry made her feel a small pang of longing and sadness in her chest, but the feeling was quickly dismissed as Sirius took her hand and brushed her knuckles with his thumb.

Sirius eyed her closely. "You okay?" He asked quietly, a small crease in his brow.

"Oh...yes, I am. Let's go and get our assignments, okay?" Hermione replied with a tight smile and left towards the front of their class. Sirius followed her, still holding her hand.

Eventually it was Lily and James who headed to the courtyard to watch the comet without their telescopes along with handful of other pairs, while Hermione stayed at the Astronomy Tower with Sirius and the other half of the class. She suspected that Professor Moonshine had separated James and Sirius on purpose to create at least some sort of peace in his class.

They chose a nice spot to examine the comet with their telescopes and made some notes for their assignment before adjusting their devices.

"Um...I was hoping that we could have a moment alone after class?" Hermione asked, turning towards him.

She had wanted to talk to Sirius about the incident with Regulus and Snape for a few days now, but on Wednesday Sirius had barely been out of his dorm, recovering from staying up all night on full moon and when he did come out, he had gone to the infirmary to check on Remus.

Yesterday it had been Hermione who had spent time time in the infirmary, giving Remus copies of her notes from Defence and Charms, as well as a large bar of Honeyduke's chocolate. Remus had tried to explain his visit at the hospital wing again as some lame illness which Hermione had pretended to buy. She had chosen not to say anything to him, yet. Later, when she had returned to the common room, Sirius and James had been in a re-scheduled Quidditch practice, since James had postponed the practice that would have been on Wednesday.

It was the first occasion in three days Hermione and Sirius actually had the opportunity to talk by themselves - and even that was in the middle of a class.

"I knew you'd want to, eventually," he said, giving her a cheeky grin.

"What - uh - no! I mean, to talk! Nothing, er, more than that." She stammered, feeling her neck warm up in embarrassment.

Sirius laughed quietly when he saw her discomfort. "Sure, whatever you say," he smiled at her knowingly.

She let out an affronted huff. "You're awfully sure of yourself."

"Should I not be?" He asked with a teasing look. Then his eyes went dark and swept over her.

"Don't look at me like that," Hermione said quietly, glancing around them.

Sirius lifted his brows. "Like what?" He murmured innocently, while looking her up and down. Hermione felt her cheeks heating up and she averted her eyes from his.

"Like you're going to have a feast," she muttered.

He sniggered and moved to stand behind her, as if to adjust her telescope to the right angle while setting his other hand to her hip. Hermione tensed slightly, his touch heating the skin under her clothes.

"Why, Hermione," he purred to her ear, "would you assume I'd look at you in any other way?" He murmured, making her shiver as his dark and smooth voice rumbled in her ear.

"...When the only thing I can think of, is your scent. And the way you taste and feel against my lips," he spoke softly, his fingertips trailing up and down her sides and his mouth hovering close to her neck, not kissing despite how badly she wanted him to.

To her astonishment, she wanted him to, even though there were other students not so far away from them examining the comet and even though their teacher kept an eye on both groups and could come back to the Astronomy tower at any moment.

She took a deep breath, not bothering to deny how good Sirius was at seduction.

Then his lips brushed the skin on her neck and a small, barely audible whimper escaped from her.

"Would you like to go somewhere private now, dearest? Maybe we could continue from where we left things when we were at the stands?" Sirius whispered to her ear sweetly.

Hermione cursed inwardly. He felt so good and strong behind her, so tempting that she had to fight against the urge to turn around and snog him senseless.

After few calming breaths she spoke to him, her voice still wavering. "That might make the other girls here at school swoon at your feet, but I'm not going to fall for your charm just yet, Black. The comet's actually that way." She turned her head slightly to look at him unaffectedly and pointed to their telescopes.

Sirius laughed. "Darling, you wound me," he said with a mock hurt voice, pouting at her.

Hermione bit her lip to suppress a smile and returned to her telescope.

They observed the comet, making random notes and had a casual conversation regarding both their assignment and how extraordinary it was to have witnessed something so rare. Hermione was somewhat impressed that he truly was a smart student when he put some effort in his studies. The conversation had flowed easily between them.

When the class was over, the students were trusted to leave the Astronomy tower by themselves, even if it was after curfew. Usually their Astronomy classes ended well before the curfew, but because of the comet, their professor had changed the schedule in order to fit most of his classes to Thursday and Friday evenings.

After James and Lily joined Hermione and Sirius to collect their belongings and walk towards the Gryffindor tower together, Sirius informed the Head students that they could go without them, since he and Hermione had something to talk about. James merely shrugged, while Lily gave Hermione a knowing smile before they left the pair in the corridor below the Astronomy tower.

Hermione and Sirius walked in silence for a moment in the empty and dark hallway. When Hermione was sure they were alone, she turned to look at him. "Sirius," she said cautiously. "I have to tell you something."

He looked at her with a somewhat alarmed expression, his brows furrowed.

"Okay... is this going to be a habit of yours, you know, giving me bad news?" He asked slowly, referring to the previous time they had had a serious conversation about his brother. He then gave her a smirk, "Although, I might be able to bear it if I can kiss you afterwards," he said quietly.

"Be serio...Ugh!" She huffed exasperatedly as Sirius's eyes lit up with mischief.

A second later he became sombre and took her hand. "Okay, you have my full attention," he said with a gentle smile.

Hermione gave him a wary look before she spoke. "Well. I met your brother...again...and he wants to meet you." She said gingerly, taking note how Sirius expression turned angry and confused.

"You know I said to him that he had a choice. Well…I think he is going to make that choice now..." Hermione gave him a careful smile. She could see a hint of hope cross his eyes.

"Fuck," he breathed. He was silent for a long while, letting the information settle in. "I don't know what to say, Hermione…That's good, I guess? I mean, he's still a little prick for taking this long to make the decision, but…I think – I think I'm willing to look past that. If his intentions are true and he really is on the right path." He said sensibly.

Hermione nodded as they walked up the stairs towards the portrait in Gryffindor tower. "He did seem to be sincere." She said as she eyed his expression.

"When did you speak with Reggie?" Sirius asked with a frown.

"Wednesday, after Potions class. You know how he's been coming to the library to sit next to me, never talking about anything and then suddenly last Sunday he said he's considering what I said to him? That he's considering making the right choice. You know, when you barged in there and told him to bugger off?" She said and smiled at him when he gave her a sheepish look.

"Maybe he was just gathering his courage, or something." She shrugged and chewed the corner of her lips in thought.

Sirius raised his eyebrows. "The git better not have a thing for you," he said jokingly.

Hermione scowled at him and entered through the portrait hole after giving the fat lady the password.

Sirius followed her in and then he took her hand and pulled her against him. "You know, I love it how I can make you angry," he murmured.

Hermione huffed. "I'm not angry…I'm annoyed," She said simply, glancing around the empty common room.

He wrapped his arms around her waist, embracing her tightly. Her whole body felt hot as he rested his forehead against hers. Their bodies were pressed so closely together that it felt almost unbearable. He slowly backed her towards one of the couches near the fireplace, where only glowing embers remained.

"You got this burning look in your eyes when you're provoked…Your hair becomes a wild mess and almost crackles with electricity..." he said quietly, leaning her against the back of the couch. His lips ghosted down her temple to her cheek and further down, his hot breath trailing slowly along the angle of her jaw. Hermione bit her lip to suppress a whimper.

"And have I mentioned your lips…?" He murmured and he kissed her softly. It was similar to their first kiss some weeks ago. One of his hands left her waist to cup her cheek and he lightly kissed the corner of her mouth. This time she let out a breathy sigh.

"…They taste like heaven." He whispered, before his lips pressed against hers again, this time harder, more demanding.

Her hands found their way around his neck and she pulled him closer to her, drawing a low rumbling sound from his throat. He pushed her firmly against the back of the couch, his leg sneaking between hers, nudging them, helping him to stand between her legs. Her breath was coming in gasps as he devoured her mouth, his fingers moving under her shirt, skimming her lower abdomen, and making her shudder against him. His touch was burning her, making her want to melt into him. He caressed her skin with his thumbs, making the warmth spread throughout her body, making something delicious to flutter deep in her belly.

His mouth found the soft skin of her jaw and neck, gently nipping the tender skin under her earlobe and swiping his tongue against the spot. Hermione moaned inaudibly, her grip against his neck tightening.

"Say you're mine, Hermione," he whispered against her neck. "I want everyone to know that you belong to me." He said and backed away a bit, locking his gaze with hers. She could see a hint of vulnerability in his dark grey eyes.

Hermione shivered to his words and worried her lip before she spoke. "I…I'm yours, Sirius." She whispered, holding his gaze, feeling nervous, feeling eager, and feeling the same hunger that lingered in his eyes.

Sirius's mouth curved into a grin, before he leaned back to kiss her lips lightly. Hermione ran her hands up his neck, tangling her fingers into his wild black locks. Sirius shuddered at her touch, crushing his mouth over hers again in a hard, hot kiss.

When the last embers of the fire had gone out, they reluctantly pulled away from each other, resting their foreheads together while trying to even their breaths.

"What now?" Sirius spoke after a short silence, his hands resting on her hips.

Hermione bit her lip and stared into his eyes. "We go to sleep," Hermione whispered.

Sirius looked thoughtful for a moment. "Yeah…Come with me?" He asked, eyeing her carefully.

Hermione contemplated her answer. She really wanted to, but what was he expecting from her?

He seemed to understand her line of thought. "Hey…I just want to hold you when I fall asleep. We don't have to do anything more than that," He murmured, his thumb caressing her cheek.

She gave him a small smile. "Okay."

As they reached the seventh-year boys' dormitory, Sirius opened the door to peek inside. A moment later, Hermione heard quiet laughter. Then James spoke to Sirius.

"By all means, mate, but just make sure you close the curtains and use a silencing charm so we don't have to suffer from your nightly activities."

Naturally, James's comment made Hermione scowl at Sirius, who at that moment glanced over his shoulder to look at her. Sirius shook his head in amusement and opened the door wider for her to step in. He headed towards his bed which was opposite to James's and said to a smirking James, "Sure, mate."

Hermione walked inside and glanced around the room. It seemed like Remus and Peter were asleep behind their closed curtains. James was still awake, sitting on his bed, wearing his pyjamas and reading a Quidditch magazine with his wand tucked behind his ear, shedding a small reading light over him. There was also a knowing smirk playing on his lips.

Hermione glared at James. "James Potter, if you think for one second that I am one of those conquests of the amazing womaniser Sirius Black, you are certainly wrong!" She hissed quietly to him. "I'm just here for sleeping. Good night!" She huffed, went to sit on Sirius's bed and flicked her wand to get the curtains closed, leaving a shocked looking Sirius standing outside of his bed.

James sniggered quietly. "Don't they all say that," he muttered under his breath.

"Shut up, Prongs," Sirius grunted and then walked away from his bed, towards the bathroom.

Even though Sirius was away for some time, James didn't say anything to Hermione, or even acknowledge that she was still in the room. James eventually put out his reading light and tossed about in his bed until faint snoring sounds filled the silence.

Hermione too was somewhere between sleep and awake when Sirius finally came back from his evening grooming routine. He slipped in bed between the curtains and lay down facing Hermione, who was curled on her side and cracking an eye open to look at him. Sirius smiled and brushed his lips gently against hers, pulling her closer before draping the comforter over them.

"Good night." Hermione mumbled sleepily and snuggled against him, her hands flat against his chest and her legs tangling with his.

"G'night, Hermione."

Saturday, 1 October 1977

As the morning sun started to glimmer between the curtains around the bed, Hermione woke up feeling well rested. She was a little confused as she took in her surroundings, but then remembered that she was actually in Sirius's bed and the boy himself was behind her, hugging her close to him as he slept, his head buried in her hair.

Her stomach jolted pleasantly as she thought about their intimate positioning. Feeling content, she yawned and stretched herself and then heard Sirius groan silently behind her.

"Hermione, please don't..." he breathed to her neck.

Hermione frowned and turned her body slightly towards him while looking at him, feeling puzzled. "Don't what, exactly?"

The movement she made when turning halfway to him made him take in another sharp breath. "I mean, love, that if you don't want to sort out my morning glory, I'll suggest you stop the not so innocent brushing," he murmured with sleepy eyes and a beguiling smile.

Hermione felt her face warm up and she rose quickly into a sitting position, pulling the comforter along with her. Her lips parted and the flush crept down to her neck as her eyes flickered over his body, stopping at the bulging tent in his pyjama bottoms that hung low on his hips, displaying a dusting of black hair that trailed a path beneath the waistband.

Sirius smirked at her. "Want to have a shower with me?" He asked and gave her an intense gaze.

Hermione cleared her dry throat and tried to will her skin back to its normal colour. "N-No, thanks, I'll manage." She stammered and licked her lips nervously, looking anywhere but him.

"I'm just taking the piss out of you, Dumbledore." Sirius chuckled and took her hand. "No need to run for the hills." He smiled at her hesitation and tugged her closer again. She lay down next to him, eyeing him warily.

"I just want to hold you," Sirius continued and brought her closer, his other hand sneaking up to her neck, his fingers tangling in her curly mane. "And you can tell me when you are ready for more, okay?" He asked softly.

At her nod, he pulled her closer to him and kissed her lightly on her lips. Hermione brought her hands up to rest against his chest as they kissed gently, leisurely tasting each other.

"I should go, you know, before the others wake up," she whispered against his lips and stood up slowly, this time taking a long look over his body. Her eyes swept over his bare, sculpted chest and well-defined abs and she admired the magically inked tattoos he had on both his shoulders and at the right side of his ribs.

"Enjoying the view?" Sirius said with a teasing smile.

Hermione thought briefly that only a mad person wouldn't, since the boy was simply beautiful. She rolled her eyes inwardly at herself before she smiled back at him and leaned down to press a final kiss against his lips. She left hastily from the dorm and dashed to the stairway.

Sirius let out a quiet laugh and stood up to go to the bathroom to get ready for the day.

What Hermione and Sirius both had apparently missed, was that the others weren't exactly asleep. At least not all of them.

"Good morning, Pads." Remus greeted as the door to their dormitory had closed.

Sirius turned to look at Remus, who was reading a book in his bed, his bed hangings now open.

"Morning." Sirius said, grinning brightly. "So Moony…I hate to say I told you so, but...no, actually I love it, who am I kidding," he chuckled. "I told you so, mate." His smugness had no limit as he pranced towards the bathroom. "I guess every dog has its day." Sirius quipped with a playful grin.

"Pads. Hold on for a moment."

Sirius turned to Remus and lifted his brows in question.

"You had sex with her?"

Sirius frowned. "Er, no. But I had her in my bed," he said matter-of-factly.

"As I remember, the bet was about having sex in your bed, as you said, and I quote, 'Like I ever would take a bird to my bed just for sleeping', so…I think I'll be collecting this time, mate." Remus smirked at him.

Sirius was peeved but accepted his defeat while James and Remus sniggered in their respective beds, waking up Peter who watched the scene in confusion. When Sirius went to shower and get ready for the day, he reckoned that in the end the bet didn't matter. She was his witch now.

Sunday, 2 October 1977

"Sirius. Hermione," Regulus stated, snapping his book shut as Sirius and Hermione stepped into the room and closed the door behind them.

It was one of those empty classrooms on the fourth floor that no one used, which made it a perfect meeting place to discuss Regulus's possible defection. Sirius assumed his brother had suggested the place so that he could be as far away from the dungeons but not too close to the Gryffindor tower either, meeting them at middle ground.

Hermione gave Regulus a nod in greeting, while Sirius eyed his brother silently before he grunted, "Reggie."

Sirius was still unsure of his brother and his motives, and possessed a healthy amount of suspicion regarding their meeting. That was why he had asked that all three of them would be present.

Regulus licked his lips and cleared his throat. "How are you?" He asked politely, his expression blank.

Sirius was mildly surprised by his civility, but schooled his expression a moment later. He reckoned if Regulus could be courteous, he could be as well. He gave his brother a shrug. "I'm...well, thanks. The Potter residence is spacious and I'm treated like an actual human there. And…I'm getting my own flat during Christmas hols."

Regulus merely inclined his head and then there was an awkward silence.

After Hermione cleared her throat and glanced at him with a pointed look, Sirius realised it was his turn to ask the questions. "How, uh, are you?" He asked from Regulus.

His brother gave him a thin smile, apparently understanding how the conversation would go; carefully and avoiding the main topic as long as possible. "I'm alright, thanks. Summer was boring. Mother had several dinner parties. She's trying to marry me off, I think. Your name was never spoken. Father's still drinking."

"Hmm." Sirius tried to sound as nonchalant as possible. He really did not give a spare thought for his parents, but his brother had been important to him, even though they hadn't been in speaking terms for a while.

Regulus continued after a moment. "I like school this year. The classes are interesting. And so are some of the new additions..." He trailed and glanced at Hermione, his eyes flashing with mischief.

Hermione frowned and looked away.

"Watch it, wanker. It's my girlfriend you are drooling over." Sirius warned, but then cracked a smile at his brother.

Regulus's lips curved upwards.

"So what NEWTs are you taking?" Regulus asked after a short silence.

Sirius frowned and looked at the ceiling for a moment. "Potions, Transfiguration, Charms, DADA, Care of Magical Creatures and Astronomy," He replied, starting to enjoy the conversation, even though it was unessential small talk.

"Astronomy? Really, Sirius?" Regulus snorted while Sirius grinned.

Sirius knew what his brother was thinking. They already knew everything there was to know about the stars, constellations, galaxies and other celestial objects that were the main topics in their Astronomy class, since they were taught the subject before attending school.

"So…you're going to be an Auror?" Regulus continued with an amused smile. "How predictable."

Sirius smirked at the truth of it. "Yeah...I guess so. What about you? Mother pushing you to be a stuck-up Ministry ponce?"

Regulus lips twitched. "Something like that. Thinks I've got what it takes to take over the Justice branch at the Ministry, but she really can't wait for me to join..." He suddenly died off and the atmosphere went suddenly tense.

Sirius's voice was toneless. "Aaand we're right on the issue."

Regulus frowned. "Yes," he said and then glanced at Hermione.

She gave him a reassuring nod.

Regulus turned back to his brother. "I don't want to join them, Sirius," he said quietly.

"Reggie," Sirius muttered. "Reg...you don't have to do anything you don't want to." He said wearily.

"It's not that easy. I have to go to live with our parents and they'd kill me if they knew that I'm even discussing this with you." Regulus snapped and sighed. "He already requested a meeting. I cannot not go. He'll kill me if I don't show up. He'd kill our parents too."

Sirius clenched his jaw and ran a hand through his hair, inwardly cursing his parents for putting his brother through what he would be forced to face. "Yes. I know."

There was a long moment of silence. No one seemed willing to break it.

"Maybe we can figure it out…together." Sirius said hesitantly while giving his brother a scrutinising look.

Regulus gave him a small sincere smile in return. "Yeah, I'd like that."

"You'll have to take Veritaserum to prove you are for real though, you know?" Sirius said, knowing there was a hint of concern in his voice.

"I wouldn't expect anything less, big brother."

Hermione had watched the brothers silently from the sides and just then she let out a deep sigh of relief. Both Sirius and his brother turned to look at her, before two identical smirks were trained at her direction. Hermione rolled her eyes and shook her head at them.

They agreed that Hermione would talk with the Headmaster about Regulus and his plans and the possibility to place him as a spy amongst Voldemort's troops. Then Regulus was to take the Veritaserum with Dumbledore and if proven honest, he would be part of the Order.

Hermione promised to keep Regulus informed before she headed towards the door with Sirius.

"Sirius?"

"Reggie?" Sirius turned and lifted his brows.

"It was, uh, good to talk with you." Regulus said slowly.

Sirius smiled. "Yeah. It was...nice."

Regulus's mouth curved into a smile. "Alright. See you around...big brother."

"You too, little brother."