Stepping out, there was a moment before anyone noticed the two in the garden. When they did a few things happened at once.
The first to spot Hermione was Harry. He stopped mid flight and flew to her, stopping about 5 yards in front of her. Watching Harry leave, everyone else stopped flying and watched as the two stared at one another. During this time only two other people moved. Tonks turned on her broom and flew over towards the pond and Ron flew down to the table and took his seat next to Lavender, who was sitting across from Ginny with her jaw slack.
"Harry," Hermione whispered and that was all it took for him to run over and snatch her into his arms. He held her close, pulling her flush against him, confining her in a death grip as if she would disappear if he let her go.
At this point all the remaining Weasley's, par Ron and Ginny, had landed and made their way over to Hermione. They took turns passing her back and forth giving her one bone crushing hug after another.
Sirius had stepped back the moment Harry grabbed Hermione wanting to give them space despite his own desire to keep her close to his side.
"Uncle Siri!"
Turning to his cousin he crouched down, smiling as the young boy's hair became jet black, his green eyes turning grey and his facial features sharpening just enough to mimick his own. Sirius shifted his little replica to face him after he jumped into his arms while simultaneously sending a smirk at Remus and Tonks who were making their way into the throng of Weasley's to get in their own hugs with Hermione.
"Hello, little wolf. How are you today?"
"I was playing in the pond with dad because they wouldn't let me play!"
"How could they do that? Don't they know you're the best keeper they have!" he exclaim causing the boy to giggle. Sirius chuckled and moved him to his hip, "I brought you a surprise pup, do you want to see it?"
"Yes!" Teddy squealed suddenly excited, all thoughts of being left out of the quidditch game forgotten. Turning to the group huddled around Hermione, everyone became making a small path to Hermione, who had her back facing them as she hugged a bright haired Tonks.
"Aunt MINI!" Teddy screamed launching himself into the air landing ungracefully into Hermione's startled arms.
"Hello, little love! I've missed you so much!" she cried smothering his tiny face with kisses.
In his excitement Teddy attempted to morph to look like his godmother and after his face softened and rounded, he got stuck and immediately sent a worried frown to his mother who was trying to hide a giggle, "You have to take it easy baby. If you change too often or without concentrating you can get stuck. Give yourself a few minutes before trying again." Giving him a quick kiss she moved on to the table with everyone else.
Following the crowd, Hermione put Teddy on her hip and made her way to the table. Setting down next to Ginny she looked to her best friend, "Gin, I'm so-"
She was cut off the moment the words left her mouth by a belly pressing into her stomach. As she relaxed into her hold, Ginny laughed and pulling back she put her forehead on her best friends, "Don't do that to me again, you hear?"
Sounding oddly like Molly Hermione couldn't help but laugh as Ginny released her.
"Oh my..." Ginny exclaimed finally seeing Teddy in Hermione's arms. Frowning slightly Hermione looked to Teddy and she immediately understood Ginny's tone of surprise. Teddy was still stuck and his tiny face a perfect mixture of Sirius and herself. His black wavy hair just kissed his shoulders, round grey eyes settled above a soft button nose and pouted lips, his chin the only feature with some sharpness that said Sirius. Looking to Sirius, who sat next to her sporting an equally shocked look on his face, she quickly turned back to the boy.
"He looks stunning," Ginny whispered.
"Well now we know what a child between the two of you would look like," Harry joked, missing the blush that creeped into Hermione's face.
Next to her Sirius sputtered into his water at his godsons words and shot a sharp look at Remus and Tonks who weren't trying to hide their laughs.
Teddy turned to the table savoring the attention from everyone at the table and laughed as they continued to dot on him.
"You look beautiful Teddy boy," Fleur sang while George said something about a child who looked like that would definitely get into some serious mischief. The table erupted into laughs at the pun. Unable to control her own laughter Hermione relaxed, letting the tension leave her shoulders. Kissing Teddy on the forehead she turned back to Ginny and conversation took off once more around the table.
Molly came out shortly after, faltering slightly at the look of Teddy on Hermione's lap, and announced lunch was ready as food appeared on the table. As people began to relax into their meals Hermione felt a hand come to rest just above her knee. The sudden contact made her jump slightly. Looking to Sirius who was engaged in a conversation with Remus and Arthur, she felt herself warm. He didn't look at her but he squeezed her knee gently when she turned to him. Trying to suppress a smile she turned back to Harry who was animatedly debating with George and Ginny over something quidditch related.
No one took any notice to Lavender and Ron at the end of the table.
After the dishes vanished from the table, Teddy disappeared from her arms to go play on his broom with Harry. Leaving the table Hermione joined Molly in the kitchen and insisted on helping her. As they finished the last of the dishes it begun to rain and everyone made quick work getting into the house.
"We're about done in here, go on and relax." Effectively being dismissed with a slight push, Hermione left Molly and made her way into the living room.
Walking into the room, she took the empty seat between Harry and Tonks. As she sat Teddy left his mothers arms and crawled into hers. Clearly tired after a long day of playing he curled into her arms and started to drift.
As conversations consumed the room no one noticed Ron go into the kitchen to confront his mother.
"Why is she here?" he growled.
"Ronald Weasley, Hermione is apart of this family whether you like it or not."
"No mum! I don't understand why she's here!" he yelled.
Visible shaken Molly took a step back. Hearing Ron's statement everyone turned to Hermione, their faces mixtures of worry and anger.
Closing her eyes, Hermione took a deep breathe, before standing and passing Teddy to his mother.
"Hermione don't leave."
"I'm not leaving George." Looking directly at Lavender she continued, "This is my family. My home. I will not be leaving until Molly or Arthur ask me to." With that she walked into the kitchen. "Ronald, I need to talk to you." Without waiting for his reply she started up the stairs and went into Ginny's room. It wasn't long before she heard Ron's heavy footsteps on the stairs. Turning to face him she sat on the bed and waited.
"Mione! You need to leave!" he bellowed as soon as he saw her.
"Why do I need to do that? Because we're not together anymore?" she replied smoothly.
"Yes! You left me! You left the family when you did that."
"Excuse me? Ron you cheated on me. I may have been the one to physically leave but you left me long before I moved out." Standing from her spot on the bed she walked over to him. Placing her hand on his shoulder she gave him a sideway glance, "I'm not leaving Ron. This is my family. Nothing you can say or do will change that. Stop trying to make everyone pick and choose between us because I have a feeling, in the end, you won't like who they choose."
Leaving him to stew in his anger she made her way back down the stairs. Reaching the bottom of the she smiled at her everyone before moving to take she spot once more.
"YOU THINK THEY WOULD PICK YOU OVER ME?"
Taking a deep breath Hermione turned to face the stairs from which Ron came stumbling down within seconds. His face purple with anger.
"If you force them to choose there will be no winner. In the end everyone will end up hurt because whether you leave or I do, our family will be broken! Why are you doing this?"
"Because you are mine Hermione! And you left. I made a mistake and now you are always around but I can't have you!" he bellowed.
Hermione took a step back in shock and Lavender let out a strangled cry before running from the room.
"I am not yours to claim Ronald." Her tone dangerously calm. "Don't you care what you've just done? You just staked a claim on me in front of your pregnant fiancée and you don't seem to care!"
"She is not you!"
Snapping Hermione whirled at him, "You do not deserve me Ronald! You haven't for years!"
"Excuse me?! I took care of you! After the war you were a mess and I stayed, I helped you though everything. After all that, I don't deserve you?"
"You didn't help me! You made me feel guilty and ashamed for being affected by the war because it was taking a toll on you to help me! You didn't stay, you strayed!" Pausing for a moment she took a deep breath as she thought to waking up that morning before continuing in a much calmer voice, "I deserve someone who makes me their priority. Someone who doesn't mind waking me in the middle of the night and helping me through the nightmares. Someone who cares enough about how I feel and makes it their goal to make me smile each day. You never did that! Not unless you wanted something from me. So no Ron, you don't deserve me!"
Stunned into silence at her words Ron stood there frozen in place. Turning her back to him Hermione picked Teddy back up and sat down, leaning into Harry's shoulder. Smiling down at the sleeping toddler once more cradled to her chest she spoke, "This is my family. I am not leaving." Looking up to meet Ron's eyes, "You need to go find Lavender, kiss her feet and hope she forgives you. She deserves to better than to be treated like that. Treat her better than you did me."
Nodding, Ron left the room in the direction Lavender ran off to. Watching him leave, Hermione visibly sagged into Harry's arms.
"Mione?"
Almost laughing at Georges hushed tone Hermione looked at the red head with an arched brow and a smirk.
"That was the most amazing thing I have ever witnessed!"
This time Hermione couldn't help the laugh the erupted from her throat.
Over the next two weeks Hermione came into Sirius' room ten times. Each time she was shaking with aftershocks of the nightmares that woke her and as he pulled back the covers she would crawl into his arms and settle there, letting the warmth of his body and the smell of his aftershave chase away her memories.
Each time Sirius heard a knock at his door he would smile to himself before calling for her to come in. He wasn't ready to admit it but he was beginning to live for the nights where she would crawl into his bed and silently curl into his chest. He never hesitated to put his arms around her and pull her closer. Ever since that night at the Burrow where she told Ron, and the entire room, what she knew she deserved he hadn't been able to get her words out of his mind. He felt she was talking about him. Seeing her holding Teddy, while he looked like the two of them, his heart had stopped and he let himself think of what it would be like to see her with their child on her hip. He knew he was a goner after that.
Two weeks later, to the day, Sirius woke on his back, arm stuck under Hermione as she lay asleep with her back along his side. As if sensing the change in his breathing Hermione stretched arching her back further pressing her beautiful arse into his hip.
Gods, Sirius groaned to himself as he turned his head to look at her as she turned to face him.
She smiled seeing him awake, "Good morning."
"Good morning Kitten."
Closing her eyes at the husky tone of his voice she relaxed further into his shoulder before letting her courage get the best of her, "Do you think we should talk about this?"
"Do you want to talk about this?" he countered.
"I do but...I'm nervous this will change everything."
Rolling onto his side to face her, he draped his arm on her hip and pulled her even closer, "Nothing has to change if you don't want it to," he mumbled into her hair.
"How do you always do that?" she chuckled. "You always sound so confident."
"It's a gift," he smirked.
Burrowing her face further into his chest she whispered, "Sirius I...I really enjoy waking up in your arms."
Smiling into her hair he pulled back from her, gently pulling her hair so her whiskey eyes met his grey ones, "I do too Kitten."
Gasping softly at his words she looked him deep in the eyes, as if searching for something, before leaning forward and softly pressed her lips to his.
Sirius froze for a moment at her sudden act before winding his hand into her hair, pressing deeper into the kiss, rolling her over onto her back. Hermione let out a feminine moan as she reached her arms around his neck and pulled her body into his own earning a groan from Sirius that she captured with her mouth. Feeling his tongue run along her bottom lip she granted him access and after a small battle for dominance she let out another small moan as his tongue caressed her own. Leaning over her, he pressed her into the mattress before releasing his hold on her lips and resting his forehead on hers, both of them trying to catch their breath.
"Sirius?"
"Kitten?"
"I would really like to do that again," she smirked at him.
Growling he leaned down and captured her lips again without further thought. Sighing into his mouth Hermione let go. She decided she loved the way his hands felt on her body and the way their lips moved perfectly together. Moving her hands down to his chest, Sirius shivered at the movement, nibbling her bottom lip as if telling her to continue. She spread her hands down his chest to his abdomen, stopping as she reached the hard muscle before trailing them back up and looping them once more around his neck. Shifting Sirius settled between her hips as she wrapped her legs around his waist, moaning as she felt his member resting against her core through their pajama bottoms.
One of his hands found its way under her shirt, gently pulling her nipple between his fingers. Hermione arched her back at the contact, pushing her breast further into his palm. Her responsiveness fueling the fire in his belly he sat up on his haunches bringing her with him and pulled her shirt off her before setting her back on the bed.
At that moment a silver stag entered the room.
"It's time, we're at St. Mungo's!" Harry's voice called out bringing them out of their own world.
As the stag disappeared, Hermione's eyes grew wide with excitement. Mimicking her expression Sirius pulled her up as he sat back on his haunches once more. Giving her a quick but deep kiss he gently pushed her from the bed, smiling she grabbed her shirt and she bounded from the room to change. As Sirius watched her his smile turned into a small frown as he took time to process what they had just started. He hadn't expected talking about their situation to turn into a snogging session. Although he quite enjoy it. Shaking himself, resolving to think of it later, he got up from the bed and dressed himself in a pair of jeans and a white shirt. Grabbing his jacket from the chair he left the bedroom, meeting an excited Hermione dressed in her own pair of jeans and a loose t-shirt.
"Ready?" she smiled.
Upon arriving at St. Mungo's they were ushered into a private waiting room. Hours passed and one by one the Weasley's entered the room, all of them anxiously waiting for news. As they waited Sirius conjured a chess board and played George, alternating players every time someone won. Molly sat in her own headspace trying her best to finish the blanket she was making for the baby and Hermione sat next to her, book in hand trying to get lost in it. She couldn't however because her mind kept wandering back to that morning. Having Sirius hovering over her, wrapping herself around him and him pulling her shirt off. She kept imagining what could have happened had Harry's patronus not interrupted them. Blushing at the mental picture her mind formed, she closed her book and looked at the pair playing chess only to find Sirius staring at her. He smirked as her face flushed and winked at her.
The door to the waiting room slammed open and Harry entered the room, smile on his face.
"We have a healthy baby boy!" He announced as they all jumped up. "As his godparents, we'd like Hermione and Sirius to be the first to meet him."
Hermione grabbed Sirius's hand and led him through the doors following Harry into Ginny's room. Seeing her best friend she let go of him and slowly made her way over to her. "Ginny you look wonderful."
Sirius stopped in the doorway unable move as he was overcome with a sense of deja vu. For a moment he saw Lily in the bed with James looking down on her with a smile and he felt a ache in his chest. Shaking his head he made his way to Hermione's side next to the bed.
Ginny smiled at them and passed the little blue bundle to Hermione, "We'd like you to meet your godson, James Sirius Potter."
Once again Sirius froze, "You named him after me?"
"I wanted him to bare the names of both of my fathers," Harry said with a grin. Ginny nodded animatedly with a smile and Sirius felt his eyes well with tears. With a grateful smile he brought his gaze back to Hermione, holding their godson.
"Hello, James. I've waited so long to meet you," she cooed, "I'm going to spoil you and be your best friend." At her words James opened his eyes and gargled, "Yes little love. That's me. It my job to always watch over you and give you everything your mummy and daddy won't."
Sirius watched Hermione sway lightly and rubbing her nose against the babes as he gargled again. "Did you see Sirius? Look!"
He stood back and watched her. She was a natural. "I see love, I see."
Smiled up at him, she beckoned him to come closer with the swift movement of her head. When he reached them she glanced down at the bundle in her arms, "Do you want to meet your Uncle Siri, little love?" Looking up at Sirius she murmured, "Are you ready to hold your godson?" Accepting his nod she carefully passed him the bundle and came to stand behind him.
Holding the babe to his chest he smiled and looked back at Hermione, "He's perfect."
"Yes, he is." She smiled back at him, resting her right hand on his hip and bring up her left up to cradle James's head.
"Oh little James, we're going to get into so much trouble! You have two reputations to live up to after all." Harry laughed at Sirius's words as Hermione left his side and went to sit with Ginny.
Ginny was exhausted.
Ten hours of labor did that to a woman. But the exhaustion didn't keep her from noticing that Hermione was holding Sirius's hand when they came into her room. Or the way Sirius looked at Hermione while she holding her son. Or the way that Hermione put her hand on his hip as she looked over his arm down at her son.
She gave Hermione a bright smile when she came to sit next to her. Clutching her hand she momentarily pulled Hermione's attention from Sirius.
"He's beautiful Gin, you did amazing."
"He is isn't he," she giggled. "I'm so tired but he was beyond worth it." They turned their attention back to the men in the room, Sirius was telling Harry about his first time holding him. She felt Hermione's hand tighten slightly around her own when Sirius glanced up at her and winked. Oh yes, there is something there. In that moment she resolved to get to the bottom of it as soon as she could get Hermione alone.