A/N: Not my longest chapter, but I hope you enjoy!
-oOo-
Chapter 12
Hermione felt like she was floating as Sirius kissed her. Her heart felt light, her blood ran hot, and warmth surrounded her. She had never kissed a boy, Granger had once with that Triwizard champion and Ron had tried, but that kiss had felt nothing like this one. It was all-encompassing.
It reminded her of that feeling when she used her magic, the magic that Granger had used.
It reminded her of when she received her wand for the first time.
It reminded her of the moment Professor McGonagall told her about Hogwarts.
It reminded her of what home was. What it used to be.
Sirius was everything to her.
His lips continued to nibble at her, she felt his tongue sweep across her lower lip. She gasped at the sensation his tongue gave her. This was nothing like what Krum did. Sirius took advantage of her gasp and plunged his tongue in, hungrily devouring her.
Hermione had thought the kiss was magic before, but this was more.
She needed more.
She pressed against him, her fingers pulling at his hair, she felt him press his hips into her and an involuntary moan escaped her. Her heart was racing, her blood was fire.
More. She needed more.
Sirius' lips left her mouth, drawing a sad whimper from her, that was quickly replaced by moans when his lips moved down her throat.
"We should stop," Sirius panted, his lips continuing down his ministrations. When he reached her pulse point, he bit down gently, causing another flush to run through her.
"Mm, no, not stop," she breathed, "more."
Hermione pressed her hips against him, feeling a large bulge against her hip. She should have been embarrassed, even shocked at the size, but she wasn't. She couldn't stop. She didn't want to stop. Sirius let out a growl at her words, his hips bucking against her. However, his hungry kisses lessened and became slow and sweet. He moved back up to her lips and pecked her twice before standing up fully. His lips were unreachable.
"Princess," he chuckled at her pout, "I want to do this right, take it slow. You deserve that, not a quick romp in an empty classroom." Hermione opened her eyes, pupils were blown wide, but she nodded her head in understanding, but not without a slight pout.
She tidied herself up, her shirt had been pulled from her skirt and her tie had been loosened. She looked well-ravaged, and Sirius didn't look much better. As the fire in her body died down, she recalled what they had been talking about before he asked about Hogsmeade, and a new fire returned. She had been angry at him, he had known about Reggie and Barty before she woke up. Had known all these weeks.
Sirius watched the desire fade from her eyes only to be replaced by anger. He hadn't waited for her to say yes when he asked her to Hogsmeade, he hadn't gotten her consent before kissing her, did she not want him? He gulped as he looked down at the witch that stood toe to toe with him last year.
"What's wrong, princess?" he asked carefully. He shouldn't have asked; did he want to die? No, he wanted to live a very full life, thank you. Preferably with her, but maybe she didn't want that.
"Wrong? What's wrong?" she said, her voice low. Sirius gulped loudly, he hoped he came out of this with intact balls, "You brought me in here to tell me you knew about my best friends! You have known for weeks! How could you keep that from me?!"
"Hermione," Sirius said with a sad sigh, "I should have told you, yes. But if I had? After you had just woken up and barely knew me except for being the annoying Gryffindor prankster and older brother of your best friend? You would have run; you would have heard me out and never spoken to me again. Afraid for yourself, afraid for your friends. I can guarantee you would have expected me to go running to Dumbledore," Sirius explained. As he spoke, the fire died in Hermione's eyes, she slowly deflated as the fight left her and the grief returned, "I needed you to know me, to trust me. I would never run to Dumbledore over something you wanted to protect with your entire being, especially something that protected people. Especially one that is protecting my little brother."
"You would really keep my secrets?" Hermione asked him. She looked at him with a such open vulnerability that it shattered Sirius' heart. How could anyone not love this girl? How could her parents despise her so?
"I would keep every single one, Marauders honour," he promised her. Hermione wanted to tell him everything, who she was, where she came from, and what she had to do. But as much as he says he would keep her secrets; would he believe her? Would he believe Peter Pettigrew would betray them?
Once again, she turned down the idea of telling Sirius.
What if Pettigrew wasn't the betrayer anymore?
It was a different timeline and if Harry Potter did not become the prophecy child, then James and Lily may not be targeted. Meaning Peter wouldn't betray them.
She needed to know for certain what was going to happen before bringing anyone else into her knowledge of the future.
"I miss them," Hermione whispered, so quietly that Sirius almost didn't hear her. Without his animagus hearing, he wouldn't have.
"I know you do," Sirius replied, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her against his chest. McCallister had always hated hugs, hated feeling trapped and vulnerable, but Sirius made her feel safe. She wanted to say it was Granger's influence, creating her newfound love of hugs and affection, but she knew it was mostly Sirius. She hugged Remus, James, and Lily. Even Reggie and Barty before everything. But none of them felt like Sirius. She never wanted him to let her go when he had his arms around her. She lived for his scent, his warmth. He was everything.
"Sirius?" She spoke against his chest, "yes, I will go to Hogsmeade with you."
"Princess," he whispered into her ear, his lips upturned into a crooked smile, "prepare yourself for the wooing of your life with the very best Marauder."
"Huh, I thought I was going to Hogsmeade with you, not Remus?" Hermione looked up at him with an innocent look.
"Oh, you will regret that princess," Sirius replied, descending on her. He kissed down her neck, across her face, everywhere but her lips, while his fingers tickled her sides.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! You are the best Marauder, none like you!" Hermione cried out, laughing, and squealing as she tried to get away from his hands.
"There's my smart girl," he said against her throat. Hermione's face flushed at the compliment; she had never been praised much in this life. Granger lived for it, but now she seemed to have a different reaction to it. She wanted to rub her thighs together as the warmth spread through her at her words. She quickly pushed down the direction her thoughts were taking her, Sirius told her he wanted to take it slow and she did too. Hermione Granger and Hermione McCallister, both, were in unfamiliar territory. Viktor Krum had never asked Granger to Hogsmeade, only to the Yule Ball and that wasn't exactly intimate or personable. Hogsmeade was a date, a date where couples went off privately to stroll through the village. Visit shops and get to know one another before stopping for lunch and a butterbeer. And if the date went well, couples would join their friends and bond with their respective friendships, solidifying a close relationship. Neither version of her had gone on an intimate date, especially not with someone as fit as Sirius Black.
Hermione knew the Black genes were strong and attractive, she was best friends with Reggie after all, and she couldn't deny her best friend was handsome. Even the Black sisters were each stunning in their own way, Narcissa with her angelic blonde locks, Andromeda with her warm, dark eyes, and rosy cheeks, and Bellatrix with her strikingly intuitive eyes and black curls. Unfortunately, Bellatrix's dalliance with the Dark Arts and Azkaban resulted in her looks deteriorating and that striking beauty turned into striking madness in Granger's future. But Sirius? Sirius wasn't just handsome. He was devastating.
He was the most beautiful man Hermione had ever laid eyes on.
And for some reason he wanted her.
"Why?" Hermione suddenly asked. She winced internally at her inability to hold back, she often found herself revealing too much with the older wizard. She was normally so composed and could hold back her emotions better. Even with Moody and McGonagall, she was careful to keep her words and emotions in check, never revealing more than she wanted.
"Why what?" Sirius asked, his smile turning into a confused frown.
"Why would you, Sirius Black, want to take me to Hogsmeade?" Hermione asked, her voice void of emotion. She stepped back, out of his arms to look at him, "I know what they call me, I'm the 'Ice Queen', and you are you, Gryffindor Marauder, the wizard every witch dreams would ask them to Hogsmeade but never has. So why, why would you ask me? The Ice Queen Mudblood?"
"Don't. Don't call yourself that, not Ice Queen, not Mudblood. Nothing that makes you less than you are. You are not an ice queen; you are a witch that has had to suppress her emotions for too long. You are not a Mudblood, you are an amazing witch, from a muggle background, but a witch, nonetheless. An incredibly intelligent one at that," Sirius said with such determination, his eyes boring into hers, "I told you in the hospital wing, princess, I missed you. I don't miss people unless they're important to me, and you have become that. Important to me, and I want to see where this could go because I would curse myself if I let you get away without trying."
Hermione wanted to melt at his words, how could she deserve him?
"Oh, Sirius," Hermione whispered. Sirius stepped up to stand in front of her, her chest against his, and she did not step back. She looked up at him as he looked down at her. Hermione had always been drawn to his eyes, his bright, silver, beautiful eyes but now she was also drawn by his smell. Even with her eyes closed she could tell when Sirius was the one standing beside her, his overwhelming scent of sandalwood, leather, and smoke. If she were to obtain a bottle of Ammortentia, she knew it would be Sirius in a bottle.
"Not to mention, you are stunningly beautiful," Sirius had leaned down, his cheek brushing hers as he spoke lowly in her ear. She shivered at the sensations his words caused, she would die from his voice alone. How could she deny herself a chance to have the man who made her weak in the knees? If he wanted her, she could have him for as long as the dream would allow.
One day he would realize that he could have anyone, any witch he wanted. When that day came, she would understand, she would be devastated, but it was inevitable. Sirius Black would move on from her but until then, she would bask in his attentions.
Without saying a word, Hermione pressed her lips to his and he enthusiastically responded. Sirius devoured her lips, and swallowed her sighs and moans, pressing his body to hers so he could feel her down his body. He snogged her eagerly but refused to allow it to go further, he kept his hands in her hair, resisting the urge to run them down her curves, and kept his lips on hers, also resisting the urge to kiss down her neck. He promised to do this right, he wanted her forever.
The thought of forever had Sirius pull back and look down at the flushed, beautiful witch in front of him. His entire body warmed at the thought of seeing her like this every day, because of him. She looked so happy and carefree, her eyes bright with happiness, and a smile on her face. He had watched her for so many years, from a distance as she bonded with his brother and yelled at him and his friends. She rarely looked happy, always so composed, and proper. Seeing her like this, because of him, filled him with pride that he was able to make her look happy.
"Come on, Princess, let's get some dinner. I believe Prongs wanted to talk to you too," Sirius said, placing another quick chaste kiss against her lips. He grabbed her hand and interlaced their fingers, leading them toward the door.
"Why does James want to talk to me? What does he know?" Hermione asked, immediately thinking the worst. Did he know anything? She remembered Moody telling her about James' father working with him a lot, did he know anything?
"Don't worry, princess," Sirius said, rubbing his thumb over her knuckles, "he has a question about Yule."
"Oh, okay," Hermione breathed out in relief. She let Sirius lead her to the Great Hall and tried to ignore the whisperings around her as the population noticed her hand linked with Sirius'. Hermione sat down beside him, as per usual, and began eating. Sirius didn't seem to notice the stares or the fact he was being incredibly more affectionate than normal.
Upon sitting down, he had let go of her hand and wrapped his arm around her shoulder, his fingers absently tracing circles on her shoulders. Occasionally, he would wrap his finger around a curl and twirl it and then let it spring free, returning to caressing her shoulder or collarbone. Hermione talked to Lily across from her who was experiencing the same treatment from James.
Between James and Sirius, the entire Great Hall was on the edge of their seats. Two of the Marauders appeared to be dating a witch. James had somehow managed to convince Lily Evans, after six years, to finally say yes to him. And Sirius, the self-proclaimed bachelor, was now dating the Ice Queen. The students were stunned and confused, unsure of what to make of the situation.
Severus Snape glared at the scene, his knuckles white against his knife and fork. He eventually stormed off halfway through dinner, unable to endure looking at his enemy holding Lily in such a manner any longer.
Ravenclaw stared at the scene with various looks. The witches were incensed that the Ice Queen had stolen a wizard of such caliber, they were angry and wanted to make sure she knew it. The wizards were more confused that such a ladies' man would be interested in the know-it-all prude but shrugged their shoulders and continued with their dinner.
Regulus watched with a sad expression. Regulus had lost his best friend to his brother, he had protected her from Death Eaters, but he couldn't protect her from the heartbreak his brother would inevitably cause. While Sirius had admitted to him that he cared for Hermione, that he liked her, he didn't think his brother meant like like. He would need to speak to his brother one last time, he didn't protect Hermione only for her to be broken by his brother.
Barty watched in envy. He wanted to wrap his arms around his best friend, his sister. And instead, he had had to call her mudblood, the only way he had been able to touch her had to be by pushing past her. And now he was watching her be happy without him. Hermione was his sister, and he was supposed to be there for her through everything, especially her first boyfriend. What if he broke her heart? Who could she turn to? She never spent time in the tower anymore, why would she? She only ever spent time there for him when Reggie was spending time with his house, and now he sat alone in his house tower. Or he was sitting in Slytherin, laughing with future Death Eaters about Blood Traitors and Mudbloods, every word, sneer, and laugh making his stomach roll in shame. He wanted to protect Hermione, and this was the only way to do it.
The Dark Lord had promised she would survive if he submitted, and for weeks he had been convinced that promise had been broken. But there she was, smiling across the hall. Regulus and Barty watched sadly as their best friend and sister moved on without them.
-oOo-
Later that evening in the Gryffindor Tower, Hermione was sitting in front of the fire attempting to help Peter with his homework when James approached her.
"Hey, Hermione," the bespectacled wizard spoke, calling her attention from the chubby Marauder, "can I talk to you for a minute?"
"Sure," Hermione replied, she turned back to Peter, "Here, try reading this and see if it helps. I'll be right back."
James smiled at the sight of the Ravenclaw witch helping their friend with Transfiguration. He would never say anything to Sirius, but he believed his friend had chosen the best witch for him. She was stubborn and full of fire, meaning she could stand up to the stubborn and angsty Marauder, but she was also kind and patient, a part of her he knew she kept hidden from outsiders. James felt drawn to her in the same way he had felt drawn to each of his friends and Lily. When he met each one of them, he just knew that they were important in some way. And now they were his family, and when Hermione had woken up and he had learned she had bet 10 galleons he would win Lily, well he vowed from that moment on that Hermione was like a sister to him.
"What's up, James?" Hermione asked curiously.
"I just wanted to ask you something, about Yule," James said, his fingers running through his hair nervously. He didn't want her to think he was pitying her or assuming she had nowhere to go, what if her parents wanted her home for Yule? He knew nothing about her muggle life, she generally avoided discussing it.
"Yule? Why?" She asked, her head tilting to the side in curiosity.
"Yeah, well, you see, Padfoot always comes to my house during Yule, and this year, Moony and Wormy can join us and I thought maybe, perhaps, you wanted to come too?" James finished with an awkward chuckle.
"You want me at your house for Yule?" she asked quietly. She had never spent Christmas with anyone before, not since she had learned she was a witch. Every year, Reggie and Barty had to return home and she had stayed behind in the castle, she had always been alone.
"Yeah, even Lily is going to join us on Christmas day," James said with a bright smile.
"But, would your parents want me there for the entire holidays? I can ask if I can join on Christmas like Lily, I wouldn't want to impose on your family," Hermione replied, her eyes downcast. James' smile turned into a frown at her reluctance to join them.
"My mother actually insisted, she sent me a letter today actually," James spoke. Hermione's head snapped up to look at him in disbelief. Why would James' mother invite her, "Sirius may have mentioned you in every letter he sent home, so she is rightly curious about the witch that caught his eye."
"Oh," Hermione replied. She knew James was a pureblood, would his mother be okay with both James and Sirius dating a Muggleborn? Plus, from what she heard about the Potter matriarch, she was a Black before becoming a Potter, and from experience they were intuitive. Would Mrs. Potter know that she was hiding more than she shared about herself?
"She'll love you, honestly," James tried to reassure her.
"Um, I guess, if she insists…" she trailed off. James whooped in excitement and pulled her into a hug, spinning her around. His actions drew the attention of many Gryffindors, many giving her a dark look. There still were not many that cared for her presence in the tower, the witches especially disliked her taking the attention of the Marauders.
"You're going to love Yule at Potter Manor, mum makes the best cookies and dad always finds the best tree," James spoke excitedly, like a small child getting ready for Santa to visit. Hermione smiled sadly at the sight, James obviously had the best Christmas every year, showered in love by his parents. Even before magic, her parents had treated Christmas like a socialite event, going to parties to connect with important people. A place where children were seen, not heard.
They walked back to the fireplace for Hermione to continue helping Peter with his homework when Sirius joined them. He sat himself behind Hermione and pulled him against his chest, like he had done it a thousand times, and struck up a conversation with James. Hermione tried to concentrate on helping Peter, but feeling Sirius against her back, feeling his arms around her stomach, and feeling his warmth and his fragrance surrounding her made it impossible.
Finally letting out a huff, she told Peter he would have to figure out the rest himself and she would read over his completed work. When she relaxed back against Sirius and directed her attention towards him, she saw the smirk on his face, indicating he knew exactly why she had ended the tutoring session.
"Alright there, princess?" he asked casually.
"Never better," she responded with a smile, resting her head against his shoulder. Sirius smiled and tightened his embrace; he had never felt more comfortable than he did at that moment. Sitting around the fire with his friends, his best mate looking adoringly at the girl he had been after for years, and his arms around the witch that ensnared him, he was happy.
-oOo-
Hermione was staring out the window as the Hogwarts Express moved through the countryside. She was nervous, she had never visited another person's home, let alone a wizarding home. What was expected of her? Her parents had trained her on how to be polite and to never speak unless spoken to, but from what she had heard about Mr. and Mrs. Potter, they were not uptight purebloods, Sirius described them as lovely, bright, friendly, and extremely loveable.
She was drawing from Granger's experiences entirely for this visit. Recalling how accepted Hermione Granger was in the Weasley household, how much her parents had loved her and they had gone on holiday every Christmas. There had only been two occasions Granger had not spent Christmas with her parents and that had been fifth year, after learning about Arthur Weasley's attack, and in 1997 when she had been in Godric's Hollow with Harry and attacked by Nagini.
She fidgeted the entire time on the train, no matter how much Sirius tried to distract her. He attempted to hold her hand, but she had felt constricted and pulled back to continue picking at her nails or pulling at the fabric of her sleeves. He tried wrapping his arm around her shoulders but she had felt claustrophobic and pushed his arm off her and turned to look out the window. At one point he tried to pull her into the loo and snog her, and while that had worked for a time, someone had finally knocked and demanded entry.
Returning to the compartment, they all tried to draw her into a conversation, but each had failed, and she continued to stare out the window.
"McCallister?" a voice drew her from her thoughts. She looked up to find herself alone with Remus, "They all went to find the trolley witch."
"And why are you not with them getting your supply of chocolate?" Hermione asked with a teasing smile.
"They know if they don't get me any I'll bite their head off," the werewolf Marauder gave her a lopsided smile, "Are you alright, though, Hermione?"
"I'm fine," replied Hermione shortly.
"I know that's not true."
"And how would you know?"
"I'm best mates with Sirius Black, I know when someone is withholding fears and is being stubborn. I also know from personal experience," replied Remus. Hermione dropped her eyes down to her lap, she knew why Remus had personal experience, Granger knew that his parents feared him for what he became each month, but McCallister wasn't supposed to know.
"Alright, I'm not fine. Happy?" she snapped.
"Of course not, but maybe you should talk about it?" he suggested, "You don't have to tell me, Sirius might know, I don't know, but we are all here. We aren't leaving."
We aren't leaving.
'He can't promise that. Reggie and Barty left. They promised they never would, and they did,' she thought to herself. For weeks she had tried to talk to her old friends, try and tell them she was fine and understood, she still loved them. But they wouldn't look at her. She saw Barty deteriorating, his stuttering had returned and had advanced into some facial tick too. It killed her to watch her brother fall apart with no way to help.
"You might," replied Hermione, hating how desperate her voice sounded.
"We won't," Remus replied with conviction. Hermione considered him, considered his words. Should she open up to the Marauders and Lily? Tell them about her past. Maybe they would understand why she was the way she was, why she was called the Ice Queen. As she thought about it, the boys returned with Lily in tow. She looked up at them, their smiling, laughing faces as they fell into the compartment. Sirius sat beside her and threw his arm around her again; it had become so natural to him.
She watched them silently, Remus watching her as he watched her decide. He smiled as he saw the look in her eyes as she made her decision. Sirius caught the look his mate was giving his witch and looked down at her. He noticed that her hands were no longer restless, and she was biting her lips in contemplation.
"Princess?" he asked uncertainly. She looked up at him and he could see the uncertainty in her eyes, the fear of something, she looked so fragile.
"You aren't leaving?" she asked quietly, it was not just a question but pleading. Pleading with him that he wouldn't abandon her. He had already vowed to himself that he would never, ever leave her if she needed him, he needed her to know.
"No matter what happens, even if you want to blast me with every curse known to man, I will always be here," he whispered to her, his eyes showing her the truth of his words.
"Okay," she let out a breath, pressing into his side and closing her eyes.
"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked, he knew she was thinking hard about something. She had been since James invited her to Yule.
"I've never spent Christmas with anyone," she finally said. James, Peter, and Lily stopped talking and turned to her in shock.
"Wait, what do you mean?" demanded James. No one should be alone on Christmas.
"Every Yule I have stayed in the castle, alone. Regulus and Barty went home, and I was not welcome at either house," Hermione explained, "Or at my own house."
"What?" gasped Lily.
"Lily, you told me your sister hates your magic?" Hermione asked the redhead, who nodded, "Well, my parents feel the same way. But not just about magic, about my entire being." Hermione then went on to explain her parents and their treatment over the years. On her birthday that she revealed her magic, how she had to feed and clothe herself and work from a young age. She told them about her return after first year and their attempts to lock her away and prevent her return to Hogwarts. She told them about McGonagall saving her and putting her in a room at the Leaky and Moody visiting her every few weeks. She told them about the mandatory week she had to live with them, and how they refused to speak to her except to refer to her as a freak or just to make their hatred known.
Each of her new friends looked horrified on her behalf.
James had thought Sirius and Remus' parents were bad for their treatment of their children, but they had never neglected their parental duties. Both were fed and clothed, albeit Sirius experienced abuse, Hermione was isolated for years.
Remus was disgusted, his parents at least hated him because he was a monster, infected with a disease that turned him into something that could kill them. Hermione, though, was hated for being outspoken, for having magic. Magic was like another organ in her body.
Peter was shocked that anyone could hate magic, he thought every single muggle should want it for themselves, not despise it and want nothing to do with it.
Lily understood. As much as she hated it, she understood how Hermione felt. To be hated by someone you loved and thought loved you, because of something out of their control. However, she also didn't understand. Her parents were proud of her, her parents had smiled so brightly when she was informed of her place in Hogwarts. They had looked at her like she was a miracle every time she let out accidental magic. Hermione had run in fear, but it had begun before the magic. They hated her because she was a strong woman, a girl who refused to be pushed into the mold that forced women to only be wives and mothers. Lily wanted to hug the witch and never let her go, how could she have ever laughed at the taunts of the other students about her? She wasn't an Ice Queen at all, she was just a girl that had been abandoned by her own parents for having magic.
Sirius was seething. He wanted to find her parents and make them understand how incredible their daughter is. How could they think she was anything less than brilliant? She wanted to do more than be a simpering wife and mother and was punished for it. He saw her for what she was. An incredibly strong, intelligent, brilliant witch and he wanted to scream from the rooftops that she was his.
"This past summer was my second last time at the house, next year I would go for the last time and I would never have to return. But now…" Hermione trailed off.
"Now what? You don't have to go back next year; you can stay at Potter Manor. You never need to go back," James spoke up, the fire in his eyes showing her how upset he was for her.
"I can't go back anyways," she said softly.
"Why?" Lily asked cautiously, she wasn't sure what Hermione was going to say but she knew it wasn't good.
"That was how they found me," Hermione answered, her eyes staring blankly ahead. Sirius felt ice rush through his veins.
"What?" he choked out, terrified of the answer he knew was coming.
"That was how the Death Eaters found me. My parents told them," Hermione said, her voice monotone, "Willingly."
"No," Lily said, eyes wide in shock.
"Didn't matter to the Death Eaters," Hermione said bitterly, "Didn't need to torture them for the answer but they did anyway. They're both dead."
Sirius felt terrible for feeling relief that they were dead. How dare they? How dare they give up their daughter to people who wanted to kill her? They didn't even need to be tortured. They willingly told people where to find her, leading to her being tortured for hours and carved up. Lead to her being held in a manor for weeks, to be in a coma for months. He hoped their deaths were slow.
He stood up suddenly, unable to hold back the anger he was feeling. His hands were balled into fists, his arms shaking at trying to hold in the anger, the despair he felt for her. Without looking back, Sirius stormed out of the compartment and pushed his way into the bathroom. He locked the door and cast the strongest silencing charm he knew and screamed. He screamed until his voice was hoarse until it cracked under the volume. He pulled his hands through his hair and sobbed angry tears, he was so angry, he didn't know where to direct it. Standing, he slammed his fist into the mirror, smashing it into pieces. He punched it over and over, feeling the glass slice through his skin.
He didn't care. He needed to feel the pain.
Finally, he felt the energy leave him and exhaustion overwhelm him. He dropped down on the toilet and pressed his face into his hands.
How could she be standing? How could she be so strong and brilliant after everything?
Reggie had told him a little about her parents, but he thought they had just been neglectful. It wasn't though, it was so much more. Her parents had never understood her, never supported her, had taken everyone important from her, and then shunned her for being the brilliant witch she is. They gave her up.
She almost died because of them.
He almost lost her because of them.
Sirius continued to sob. He could have lost her, could have never had a chance with her, and would have never known why. If she had died, would he have ever found out or would he have gone every day thinking she had just disappeared?
He needed her.
With that thought in mind, he jumped up from the toilet and rushed back to the compartment. He slammed the door open and found Hermione being hugged by Lily. When the door opened, Hermione looked up at him with sad eyes. He saw the desperation in them, she thought he left her.
Never.
He rushed forward and wrapped his arms around her. He pulled her against his chest and kissed her temple. He whispered in her ear, against her hair. He kissed her temple softly, whispering soft words of comfort to her.
"I'm so sorry, I will never, ever leave you," he vowed. His eyes were filled with tears, unable to understand how anyone could treat this witch as anything less than royalty. She was his everything.
"Sirius, what happened to your hand?" she finally spoke, her voice hoarse and trembling.
"Nothing, it doesn't matter," he said dismissively.
"Mate, you're bleeding all over her and you," snickered James. Sirius finally looked down at her and his hand and saw that his knuckles were completely shredded. Blood was oozing from them and had run down his forearm and his hand was covered. He winced as he saw the blood in Hermione's hair and smudged across her cheek and shirt. Knowing he had run his hands over his face, he knew that he had managed to spread it across his face similarly to Hermione.
Hermione let out a small giggle when she looked up at him, bringing a smile to his face. She pulled out her wand and cast a quick healing charm over his knuckles and a quick cleansing charm over themselves. The older students all watched her in awe as she completed both easily and non-verbally.
"Oh, um, yeah, I ah," Hermione said awkwardly, "I may know wandless magic?"
"What?!" sputtered Remus and Lily, "We have been practicing all year and can only do some spells!"
"Ah, just some spells come naturally to me?" she replied awkwardly. Siris beamed down at her. He knew his witch was brilliant, this just proved it further. He sat down on the bench and pulled her down to him, and onto his lap. They may not have had their first official date in Hogsmeade yet, but before they returned to Hogwarts, Sirius was going to make her his witch.
Officially.
-oOo-
A/N: Hope you enjoyed! Next will be a visit to Potter Manor and meeting Harry Potter's grandparents. Please read, review, favourite, follow, any love is appreciated! 3