Chapter Text
The Next Morning, Saturday, November 4th, 2006
The morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow over the room. Hermione's head throbbed slightly from the previous night's celebrations. She sat up, placing her fingers over her temple, rubbing small circles into the area. She opened the drawer by the nightstand and sighed, no hangover drafts.
“ Accio Hangover potion .” She muttered, holding out a lazy hand, expecting her bag to send one flying into it. When nothing happened she rolled her shoulders and concentrated.
“ Accio Hangover Draft !” She tried again, still no potion, no rustling or anything. She let out a heavy sigh, her shoulders slumped as she slowly stood up and climbed out of bed.
“ Accio robe. ”
Immediately the robe hanging up near the bedroom door flew off the hook and into her waiting hand. Obviously her magic was working just fine… she was just out of hangover potion. She couldn’t remember the last time that ever happened. Surely not since…Draco had returned to her life four years ago. She swallowed the melancholy feeling and stretched, putting on the robe.
She looked at the door and her mind drifted back to the night before. How she had almost fallen and Sirius caught her, the feel of his breath on her skin, his fingers trailing up her back, his lips on hers. Her cheeks flushed and she groaned inwardly, running her hand over her face.
She had gotten herself into a mess, she had gotten too comfortable. She only hoped Sirius wouldn’t remember what happened, though she doubted she’d be so lucky. She grabbed her wand, casting a quick tempus; it wasn’t even 9am yet on a Saturday morning. They’d gotten home past 2am the night before, so there was no way Sirius would be awake yet, so at least she could avoid him this way. She’d told Luna she would meet with her and Ginny for lunch anyways since Molly was taking the kids for the day. She could just hop in the shower and sneak out, maybe head to Flourish and Blotts early before meeting Luna and Ginny at the Tea shop.
Quietly, she slipped out of the room and down the hall to the bathroom. She yawned, opening the bathroom door, and her mouth fell open.
There, with his back turned, was Sirius… stark naked. Her eyes trailed down, taking in his features as he towel-dried his hair. Droplets of water glistened on his broad shoulders, sliding down the defined muscles of his back. Her gaze continued downward, tracing the curve of his spine and the lean, toned lines of his figure She swallowed hard, taking in the tight muscles of his ass. Her cheeks flushed with the feeling of embarrassment and undeniable attraction washing over her as she forced her eyes upwards and caught him looking over his shoulder at her.
His expression was surprised as he turned just slightly to face her. She forced her eyes to stay on his face. He’d caught her ogling him already; she was not about to further embarrass herself. A mischievous grin spread across his face.
“Good morning, Kitten" he said, his voice dripping with amusement as he moved the towel down from his hair, wrapping it agonizingly slowly, around his waist. His damp hair still clung to his forehead and she saw that flirtatious glint in his eyes as he looked at her. She was thankful to be in her robe this time as she pulled it tighter around her.
"Like what you see?” he said as he tightened the towel around his waist. “Twice this week you’ve seen me like this, if you’d like to shower together next time and save some water, I wouldn’t be opposed..." He teased as ran a hand through the wet strands of hair, pushing them back before he stepped closer to her, his eyes skimming over her before meeting her eyes. “Especially after last night..”
Hermione felt her cheeks flush crimson. She struggled to find her voice, finally managing a scoff as her hand tightened on the door.
“That was just the alcohol, nothing more! And I just hadn’t expected you to be awake! You-you should learn to lock the door!" She retorted as she held her ground, sticking her nose up at him and glaring, though her heart rate had definitely increased at his proximity.
He smirked down at her and took a long step forward, closing in on her. “Oh but that would ruin the fun wouldn’t it?” He said huskily and she sputtered and took a step back, removing her hand from the doorknob.
“You’re such a— overly flirtatious- pompous- arsehole- Just tell me when you're done, I don’t have time for your childish antics!” She hissed before she turned on her heel and rushed back to her room, her heart pounding in her chest. She slammed her door shut and tried to calm her racing heart. She wished the heat she felt was just from the steamy bathroom and not from him… but the way her core seemed to flutter and her mind struggled to focus, she knew she was in trouble.
A few minutes later after calming her racing heart, she heard a soft knock at her door and her eyes widened before she schooled her expression into her signature know it all glare. She opened the door halfway and folded her arms expecting to see him, but he wasn’t there. Her shoulders fell in relief as she peered out the door just as his own bedroom door clicked shut. She glanced down, seeing a potion sitting there with a note instead. She picked them up, peering at the familiar looking liquid and then the note.
‘Kitten,
I’m sorry for not respecting your boundaries. I know I was coming on a bit too strong and I hope you can forgive me for being a ‘flirtatious pompous arsehole’. I know last night was just the wine, I shouldn’t have implied anything else, please accept this hangover draft as a peace offering.
-Padfoot.’
She sighed, closing the bedroom door and shaking her head as she walked back over to her bed and set the note down on the nightstand. Her lips twitched upwards just the slightest bit as she uncorked the potion and drank. Then she grabbed her towel and change of clothing and made her way towards the shower. She tried not to breathe in the scent of his body wash and cologne. She tried not to think about the droplets of water that trailed down his back and to his–.
“Ugh.” She groaned as she rested her head against the shower wall as the hot water cascaded down her own body. She felt on edge and tingly and her nipples had pebbled from the mix of cool air with the hot water. She turned down the water, and grabbed her loofah and scrubbed her skin just a tad rougher than she normally would. She needed to get a hold of herself and she needed to think about moving back home now that she’d finally changed the wards.
***
An hour later after a cold ‘refreshing’ shower, she had managed to step out of the house without confronting Sirius again. After spending another hour roaming the new releases shelves at Flourish and Blotts and she made her way to the Elephant’s Tea Room. She was surprised to see Luna already sitting at a table by the window on the second floor of the red colored building. Luna smiled and stood up as Hermione walked over to her. She brought Hermione into a warm hug before sitting back down.
“Oh it’s so good to see you again, Hermione.” She said airely and Hermione laughed, sitting down across from her and leaving the middle seat open for Ginny.
“It’s good to see you too Luna, though we just saw each other not even twelve hours ago.”
Luna smiled a bit brighter and nodded before she looked back out the window to the bustling street below. Hermione looked out the window as well, seeing everyone nestled up in their winter jackets already, there was a thin dusting of snow on the ground from the night before.
“Yes, Yes that’s true, but I feel something has changed since we last saw each other.” Luna finally spoke and Hermione looked at her with a quizzical expression and furrowed brows.
“What do you mean? Nothing’s changed.” She replied and Luna’s silvery blue eyes seemed to reflect the sunlight as she looked right back at Hermione.
“Your eyes are more open now, though you try to deny it because your heart remains closed. You don’t have to open your heart to open your eyes and your mind to the possibilities that could be.” Luna chimed before she rested her hand over Hermione’s. "I can see your heart at war with the ties that bind you, Hermione, "
"I don’t know what you mean, Luna." Hermione said as she went to pull her hand back, but Luna held on just a bit tighter, Her eyes seemed to be peering right into her soul and Hermione gripped the edge of her chair with her freehand.
"You have a conflicted heart with ties to two, but only one bond will remain unbroken."
“Thank you for your insight Luna, but I have it handled.” Hermione replied, her voice coming out a bit choked. Normally she didn’t buy into the ‘Looney’ Lovegood act, but right now… leave it to Luna to somehow be able to see that bond between Sirius and her, despite it having been sealed up. Though, something about her words really unsettled her.
“Of course you do, just remember, time will reveal all secrets just as it heals open wounds.” Luna crooned and squeezed Hermione’s hand before letting go and standing up again. She then glided towards the second floor entryway and Hermione watched as only seconds later Ginny came up the stairs. Hermione wondered if Luna had seen her coming into the storefront from the street below… but she couldn’t remember her breaking eye contact UNTIL she stood up. Luna wrapped her arms around the redhead in a warm greeting that had Ginny grinning from ear to ear as she cried out how much she had missed Luna and was glad she was back.
Hermione shuddered, shaking the ominous clouds that were running in her mind and rolled her knuckles before too stood and greeted Ginny with a big hug as well.
Shortly thereafter a waitress brought over two pots of hot tea, clotted cream, jam, scones, and a tiered tray of various finger sandwiches and fruits. As they chatted over what Luna has missed the past couple months and what her adventures entailed, thankfully Ginny and Luna had enough to talk about, Hermione was able to just enjoy the chatter between the two witches and try not to think about the implications of Luna’s words.
Did that mean she’d never be able to truly break the bond between Sirius and her?
***
Hermione joined Ginny and Luna as they walked through Diagon Alley, Ginny was getting new robes from Madam Malkins while Luna wanted to stop by the Apothecary. As they roamed around, Hermione kept feeling eyes on her, but she shrugged it off. It wasn’t the first time people eyed her, especially when she was with Ginny. ‘ The Golden Girl and Ginny Potter, previous love rivals shopping together in Diagon Alley’ or similar headlines had graced the daily prophet over the years.
It certainly wasn’t the first time they’d written about the two of them in the paper and it unfortunately wouldn’t be the last. She heard the clicks of at least one or two cameras and cast a wandless hex under her breath that caused the camera to blow smoke in the photographer's face the next time they tried to take a shot of them.
She smiled to herself as they walked away and she heard someone gasp, followed by excessive coughing.
“Man, I don’t know who is nastier, you or Pansy when it comes to hexing the pestering billywigs.” Ginny snickered, commenting on her favoured name for the illicit photographers.
“They are evenly matched, Pansy is more confrontational about it than Hermione is, but they both have no issue casting various hexes on them.” Luna chimed in, then she turned back to face them. “Anyways, I must get going, Theo and I are going to the zoo this afternoon.”
“The zoo?!?” Hermione and Ginny both exclaimed at the golden haired witch in front of them. She turned back around to face them.
“Oh yes, I’ve never been to a muggle zoo, and Theo said he has gotten quite acquitted with muggle outings and wanted to take me there. Then we are having dinner at a planetarium. He reserved it for the night.” She replied in her normal dreamy tone.
“So… what I’m hearing is, Theo asked you on a date.” Ginny teased with a mirthful grin. Luna giggled, shaking her head in response.
“Oh no, he just wants to spend more time with just the two of us alone and share a meal together. That’s all.”
“That… sounds like what you do on a date, Luna.” Hermione said calmly, trying to hold back a smile.
“Does it…?” Luna tilted her head and looked up at the sky as if thinking it over before she looked back at the two of them and shrugged. “Well if you say so. Either way, I must get going. He asked what my favorite flowers were so I need to make sure I have a pot to put them in.” She said before she waves at the two of them and practically skipped off towards the leaky.
“A pot? Don’t you mean a vase!-” Hermione called after Luna before Ginny laughed.
“No, no I am sure she means a pot.” She sniggered and Hermione’s lips curled up.
“Oh Luna..” She laughed with Ginny as they both shook their heads before Ginny linked her arm with Hermione’s.
“Come on, there is one more shop I want to check out.” Ginny said as she dragged Hermione towards Quality Quidditch Supplies.
***
When they arrived back at the Potter Cottage, Hermione was surprised to see Harry and Ron sitting at the kitchen table. She was even more surprised when she saw Sirius was also there. She wasn’t quite ready to deal with him again.
“Oh you are back!” Ginny called out as she walked over to her husband and kissed him on the cheek, a surprisingly sweet jester for the two of them. Hermione looked over Ginny again, really taking her in. She’d been so distracted by Luna’s words and then the shopping, she hadn’t really looked at her.
She certainly looked tired, but the small, barely lines by her mouth and the crinkle in her eyes as she spoke to Harry showed that despite the stress of dealing with a toddler and a newborn, and having Her husband constantly being called in for emergency assignments, she was happy.
She felt a pit in her stomach as she again thought of who would normally be at her side for this get togethers and who she hoped for that same future with. Her hands flexed and she schooled her features as she caught Ron eyeing her.
“Mione! I didn’t think you’d be here!” He said as he walked up to her and smiled, he stopped suddenly, his smile dropped just a touch as she saw his posture become even more awkward than normal.
“Hi Ron, it’s good to see you.” She said, offering him a warm and genuine smile as she looked up at him, because honestly, it was good to see him. “I’ve missed you.” She said as she opened her posture just the tiniest bit.
The way his face lit up as he took the hint and quickly wrapped his arms around her in a big bear hug, even spinning her around.
She couldn’t help but laugh. “Put me down, put me down!” She cried out and he did before letting her go with a sheepish grin.
“Sorry, I’m just really happy to see you, it’s been awhile. I haven’t seen since before…” He started but broke off his words, looking a bit apologetic. “How have you been holding up?”
Her smile dropped and her lips twitched before she replied. “Honestly? I’m alright, It’s been a tough few weeks I will admit, but this past week has been.. eye opening to say the least.”
Ron placed a consoling hand on Hermione’s shoulder and offered her a consoling smile. “Of course, you deserve better, I hope you know that.” She wondered when people would stop treating her like some charity case, but she reminded herself, it was good she had so many people who cared about her.
“She does, she deserves the best!” A familiar face said from the other room and Hermione turned around to see Sirius stepping out of the fireplace and brushing himself off.
She felt Ron’s hand tighten on her shoulder and his posture grow stiff as his face darkened. She winced at the pressure his fingers were putting on her.
“Ron! Let go. What is wrong with you?” She hissed at him and his gaze turned back to her. He quickly let up and dropped his hand.
“Sorry, I- I don’t know what came over me.” He said quickly, running a hand through his hair as he took up a step back from her.
“It’s fine…” She muttered as she rubbed her shoulder over the spot he had gripped.
“I’m going to step outside, I think I need some fresh air to clear my head after the raid last night.” Ron murmured, walking towards the side door before Hermione could question him further.
She shrugged it off and turned back to where Sirius was as he conversed with Harry and Ginny.
She rolled her shoulders, fighting the tension building there, and not just from the grip Ron had on her earlier. She wasn’t ready to see her just yet. Between last night and this morning’s encounter as well as Luna’s ominous words, she… she had to admit there was something there, at least a physical pull.
But a part of her still felt like it was a betrayal… Draco had expressed his insecurities in her closeness with Sirius and thought she’d never thought of Sirius that way before these past couple weeks had changed things, especially after yesterday.
She felt eyes on her and as she looked up again, Sirius was staring at her as if he could see right through what she was thinking and it left her feeling exposed and vulnerable
***
A little while later, Harry had left to get the boys back from Potter cottage. Hermione had tried to ask Harry about the raid him and Ron had done the night before but they both shrugged it off saying it was nothing to worry about. The usual rogue bad wizard and bust, but the auror’s office was so on edge these days, it seemed practically everything was becoming an emergency. Especially since they had a shortage of ‘good’ aurors. Sirius made it a point to remind Harry they had a perfectly accessible one right in front of them in Jones or Kingsley would just allow him back out on the field again.
Ron had decided to go along with Harry so he could let Molly know he was back home safe but he planned to join them again for dinner. This left Sirius, Ginny and Hermione, alone for the time being.
Sirius stretched in the seat he had just happened to take, right beside Hermione, his fingers would graze hers or her thigh as he casually conversed with Ginny over Quidditch and Hermione could hardly pay attention, the charge at his touch had her on edge. It wasn’t until he stood up that she registered what was going on. He placed his hand on shoulder and she looked up at him, a puzzled expression on her face.
"I’m going to grab something to drink, Can I get you something, Princess?” He asked with a too charming smile for such a simple question.
“Sure, thanks Sirius.” She replied, smiling back, but then he leaned just a tad closer, his hand still lingering on her shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze.
“Any preference?” He said softly, and Hermione would swear by his tone he’d had something far more.. Inappropriate. She pursed her lips and he grinned, letting go of her shoulder.
“Surprise me. Just no alcohol!” She said and he winked at her and waved his hand before walking into the kitchen. Hermione’s gaze followed after him.
"Merlin, you could cut that sexual tension with a knife! Have you bedded him yet?”
“Ginny!” Hermione hissed as she quickly glanced back towards the kitchen and then glared at the red headed witch.
“What? I meant to ask you earlier, but got a bit sidetracked! Yesterday was his birthday, I figured you would have finally given in and had some good old birthday sex.” She teased, winking at Hermione. “I’m already married, but man have I fantasized about what a man like him would do in the sack. Let a gal live vicariously through you.”
Hermione was too busy gaping at Ginny words to notice the floo had come to life behind her. That was until Ron’s voice bellowed out and Ginny winced as they both turned to face the fireplace.
“Are you kidding me? It’s really true then??!!” Ron shouted as he stomped out of the floo, a newspaper in his hand. His face was beat red and he stalked closer, waving the paper in his hand and he continued to raise his voice.
"Already moving on from the ferret and stooping so low that you’d fuck around with anyone wouldn’t you? Maybe those news articles were right about you being after all the infamous pureblood wizards, I wasn’t good enough huh? Draco without his inheritance wasn’t good enough so you gotta go for the next victim," he sneered, his words hitting a cord as Hermione stared at him flabbergasted.
"Oh grow up and get over yourself! Hermione's a big girl and can make her own choices. It's been over a month, and she doesn't need your approval to move on." Ginny snipped and Ron turned on her.
“And you are actually encouraging this?” He spat at her, but Hermione wasn’t about to let this continue.
“Shut up, Ronald. I will not have any more of this bollocks of yours. If you want to be in my life, you will need to respect me and my autonomy. I do not have to answer you, I do not need your permission. My choices are my own!” Hermione declared as she stood up straight and looked up at him with a look that said she’d hex him and those bollocks right off of him if he wasn’t careful.
Ron opened his mouth to retort but then sighed, dragging a hand over his face and hair, then rubbing the back of his neck. His other hand had crumbled up the paper. "I… I’m sorry… I don’t know why I keep getting like this…"
“Everything alright here?” Sirius called and Hermione looked behind Ron to see him standing there with two cold Ribena’s.
Hermione could tell by the look on his face that he had, at the very least, overheard the last bit of the conversation. He was gripping the drinks just a tad bit too tightly and his eyes were focused on the back of Ron’s head as if he was ready to bash it in at Hermione’s say so. He certainly lived up to his protective dog alter ego.
“Yeah, everything’s fine. Ron was just about to grab a calming draft and tell me about what he saw in the paper to get him so irrationally riled up.” Hermione said tersely and Ron brought his head down and gripped the paper just a bit tighter, his knuckles going white.
“Give it here.” Hermione said as she held out her hand, when he still hesitated, Ginny had moved behind him and ripped it from his grip and unfolded the paper and smoothed it out. Hermione moved to stand beside her as she read over the headlines. Two standing out in particular. It was as if the Gala she had done didn’t matter at all, only the scandals that went along with it.
Trouble in Paradise? Have the Infamous Couple of the Decade called it quits?
Rumors are swirling faster than a Firebolt about Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy. The golden couple hasn't been spotted together in weeks, and tensions reached a boiling point at the recent Samhain Charity Gala hosted by the Malfoys. Hermione, this year’s guest of honor, attended the ball separately, sparking speculation about the end of their legendary romance. We are determined to get to the bottom of this and will be reaching out to the couple for commentary over the next few days. More details on the Charity Gala can be found on page 5.
Golden Girl or Gold Digger? Hermione Granger going for the Black.
At the recent Samhain Charity Gala, Hermione Granger, dressed as Christine from Phantom of the Opera, shamelessly flaunted her date, Sirius Black, dressed as the Phantom. The pair looked every bit the couple, while Draco Malfoy was left looking utterly scorned and devastated in the background. It seems Hermione is 'trading up' once again, leaving another trail of broken hearts as she digs her claws into yet another rich and infamous wizard. How many more hearts will she break in her relentless pursuit of wealth and fame? More on page 3.
Hermione’s hands began to shake and she felt the stinging in her eyes and the rage simmering just beneath the surface. How could they twist things so horribly and paint her out to be the villain? Draco was the one that walked away from her, Draco was the one who came with a date first. Draco was the one who ripped her heart out and trampled on it. Her mind raced through all the sacrifices she'd made, all the planning she’d done for the gala, the speech she’d spent days writing, only to be reduced to this nonsense. Ginny was still standing beside her and reading over the articles, her face turning a dangerous shade of red.
"Can you believe this garbage?!" Ginny burst out, her voice echoing in the room. "They have no idea what they're talking about!"
Ron, looking thoroughly sheepish, skittered off into the kitchen, avoiding Hermione's gaze. Ginny muttered something about bat-bogey hexes under her breath as she followed him.
Sirius, having wandered over to see what the fuss was about, glanced at the articles in her hand. He placed his hand over hers and slowly pulled the papers from her grasp before crumbling them back up and casting a quick bluebell flame. They burst into flames and turned to ash in front of them. Hermione stared down at the ashes before Sirius vanished them before grabbing her chin and tilting it to look up at him.
"Are you alright?" he asked, his tone soothing.
"You know I don't believe a word of what the prophet says. If anyone understands how full of shite the Prophet can be, it's me. It’s all bull and propaganda. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Malfoy’s paid them off to make you look bad, thinking it would further their own image, that’s what it’s about to them." He continued before letting go of her chin and taking a step back. “I must say though, that ‘victim’ of yours does look quite sexy and like he is quite enjoying having your claws dug into him, I bet he wouldn’t mind if you dug them in more.”
Hermione pursed her lips at him again and he put his hands up placatingly with a cheesy grin.
“I know, I know, there’s the feisty kitten I know.”
Hermione’s lips curled up and she shook her head, a thoughtful look crossing her face. “Still, it brings back old memories of jars and nosey outspoken reporters needing to be taught lessons…I think Rita’s underling might not be aware of how I tend to handle things. Maybe I should pay them a visit.”
“As much as I love the idea, I’m sure you know very well how NOT good of an idea it would be, what with you wanting to work your way up to the Minister of Magic…” Then she saw it, that mischievous glint in his eyes as he leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a playful whisper. “I have an idea that’ll get your mind off things.”
“Yeah? What's that?” She replied, a puzzled expression on her face as she pulled back a hair to look at him.
“It’s a surprise, but I say let's get out of here, and I’ll take you someplace else.” He extended his hand toward her, an enigmatic smile curling at his lips. Hermione hesitated, glancing around the room and raising a brow.
“Aren’t we doing your birthday part two tonight, Harry isn’t back with the kids yet, don’t you want to see them?” Sirius looked thoughtful for a moment before he shrugged, his lips quirked.
“I’ll be seeing them tomorrow as I do every Sunday, I think I’d rather celebrate it this way.” He said nonchalantly, his lips still quirked. She looked back at the kitchen where Ginny seemed to be lecturing Ron and then took Sirius’s hand.
Without another word, he gently pulled her to him and led her out the door. Instead of heading to the Floo Network, they walked into the cool night air towards the shed. The sun had already set, casting a serene twilight glow. As they approached, Sirius stopped and dramatically revealed an old motorcycle, its chrome gleaming under the moonlight.
Hermione gasped, her eyes widening in surprise and excitement. “When did you fix this one?”
“Actually, this is the first one I put together. I just have continued to fix up more… it’s become a favored pastime of mine.” Sirius grinned, hopping onto the bike and patting the seat behind him. “Hop on, Kitten. Let’s make this a night to remember.”
Hermione stared at the motorcycle, her skepticism evident. “Sirius, I don’t know about this. It looks... dangerous.”
Sirius chuckled, raising an eyebrow. “Come on, Hermione. If you can ride a dragon, a motorcycle should be a piece of cake.”
She crossed her arms, trying to mask her nerves. “That was nearly ten years ago, and it wasn’t exactly voluntary.”
Sirius rolled his eyes playfully, then with a swift motion, he grabbed her by the waist and hoisted her onto the seat behind him. “Hold on tight,” he instructed, a mischievous grin on his face.
Hermione barely had time to wrap her arms around him before the engine roared to life. “I still don’t think this is a good iDEAA!” she shrieked as the motorcycle lifted off the ground, her voice trailing into the night sky.
Sirius laughed, the wind whipping through their hair as they soared higher. He engaged the invisibility shield. “Relax, Granger! You’re in for the ride of your life!”
As they ascended into the sky, Hermione’s initial fear began to give way to a rush of exciting. The lights of the town twinkled below them like a sea of stars, and the cool night air was refreshing against her skin.
Sirius glanced back at her, his eyes gleaming with excitement. “See? Not so bad, is it?”
Hermione, her grip still tight around his waist, managed a small smile. “Okay, I’ll admit, it’s kind of… exhilarating.”
They zoomed through the air, the landscape below a blur of dark greens and blues. Sirius expertly maneuvered the bike, dipping and diving, making Hermione’s heart race with each turn. She found herself laughing, the sound carried away by the wind.
After a while, Sirius slowed the bike, bringing them to a gentle hover above a serene, moonlit lake. The water shimmered like liquid silver, and the reflection of the full moon was almost magical.
Sirius turned to her, his expression softer now. “I thought you could use a bit of a distraction and I love a good ride on a cool November night. How’s this for a change of scenery?”
Hermione’s eyes sparkled as she looked around, taking in the breathtaking view. “It’s perfect, Sirius. Thank you.”
He nodded, a satisfied smile on his face. “Anytime, Kitten. Now, how about we land and take a little stroll by the water?”
“Sure, it looks peaceful tonight, even with the ice and snow.” Hermione said as she rested her head against his shoulder. Her earlier anxiety and frustrations were completely forgotten. As they descended toward the lake, she couldn’t help but feel grateful for moments like these—an unexpected adventure and fresh air was just what she needed right now.
As they landed softly by the water’s edge, Sirius helped her off the bike, his hand lingering a moment longer than necessary. “You know, if I didn’t know any better…” he said with a teasing glint in his eye, “I think you might be starting to enjoy my company.”
A playful smile spread across her lips as she shrugged nonchalantly. “Maybe just a little.”
The sound of the water lapping at the shore, the gentle rustling of the trees that still hadn’t lost their leaves mixed and the soft crunch of snow created a peaceful ambiance. Hermione placed her hands in her pockets, feeling the chill air as they walked.
“It’s nights like these that remind me of my old school days,” Sirius said as he stretched his hands above his head. “Running around as Padfoot, feeling so free... not worrying about what was going on in the outside world.”
Hermione turned to look at him, understanding in her eyes. “Do you miss them? Remus and James, I mean.”
Sirius’s expression softened, a sad smile tugging at his lips as he looked up at the sky. “Every day…”
“I miss my parents… I miss experiencing the first snow of the season with them as I did when I was a child or visiting the parks and iceskating. It’s hard to believe that, though they are alive, they will never know who I am. Not without the risk of causing further harm to their brains.” She said slowly and Sirius nodded before continuing their walk. It was that silent agreement of support between each other. That feeling of loss and acceptance.
They walked in silence for a moment and Hermione reached her hand from her pocket, and grasped his. Sirius stopped walking suddenly and turned to face her again, running his thumb over the back of her hand. His eyes were filled with a mix of gratitude and something else she couldn’t quite place
“You know, I have you to thank for this second chance and for helping me get through the pain and loss. I miss them, yes, but I believe this was my second chance.. I can be there for Harry, for Teddy, for their kids too as James and Remus would have wanted… and I get to just… live again, you brought me back to life in more ways than one.” He said, bringing his freehand up to her cheek and running a thumb over her lips. “I’d like to think that maybe this was my second chance at something else too, something I'd never really allowed myself to feel before.”
Her breathing went shallow as Sirius searched her gaze. He took a step forward, closing the space between him and despite the cold, she could feel the heat that radiated off him. She wanted to stop him- or at least that is what she told herself. But as he tilted her head down and pressed a kiss to her forehead... she felt disappointed. Still his lips lingered there, calming her breathing, before he finally pulled back.
“Let’s get going back, how about we grab some carry out and watch a movie, I think I could use a nice relaxing night in before I get to see all the kids tomorrow.” He finally said and, though her cheeks were flushed, she agreed.
“Good idea, it’s getting pretty cold out and it’ll take us a bit to get back out to the cottage, we should let them know everything is alright too, I’m sure Ron is still feeling both guilty and strangely possessive again. I know Ginny set him straight, but still. I need to confront the beast at some point.” Hermione said with a wry smile. Sirius squeezed the hand he was still holding as they strolled back towards the bike.
“He does mean well… but something is definitely off with him these days.” He said with a slight shake of his head. “He’s always been hotheaded, but I’ve heard the stories from both Harry and George and I’ve seen the way he acts with you. I hope he gets his act together soon and this was a one off.”
Hermione sighed and moved a curl from his face. “ I’m sure at this point he knows I have no problem cutting him back out of my life if he comes after me again, as sad as that is to say… but I do believe he means well… even though the things he said were uncalled for. I’m sure Ginny told Molly about it too so he will get whipped back into shape again.”
Sirius barked a laugh. “Oh yes, Molly will not stand for it, that’s for sure!”