Chapter Text
CHAPTER 6
When Sirius arrived home from work on Friday, Hermione was still at work. He took a shower, made a sandwich and laid on the couch in the library. He thought he was going to read but fell asleep almost instantly. He awoke to the green flash of light from the Floo signaling Hermione was home.
She dusted herself off and sat beside him. “How long have you been home?”
“I’ve been here about an hour. Took a shower, and a short nap.”
She could see he looked tired. “Sirius, if you’re too tired we don’t have to go out tonight.”
He could see she was trying to hide disappointment, and he had already made all the plans and prepaid as much as he could. Besides, he really wanted to take her out. “I’m not too tired. I want to go out. Now I’d better go up and change.” She stood and followed him as far as her floor.
A few minutes before seven Sirius reentered the library to find Hermione. He had showered again, made sure his hair and mustache were trimmed. He decided that since she liked him in black, he would wear the black suit again, but this time he would wear a black tie with tiny white stripes.
He noticed she was staring at him, “Is something wrong?”
Clearing her throat and regaining her composure, she said, “You look very handsome.”
“You’re stunning.” He saw her blush then smile. “Let’s go to dinner.” He helped her with her shawl, held the door as she exited and placed his hand on the small of her back as he guided her to the waiting car.
The driver opened the door, and Hermione slid in followed by Sirius. “So, we are traveling in style tonight.” She said.
They talked quietly while traveling through the streets of London about what they had missed this week. Stopping at the Embankment Pier, where the driver pulled up to a beautiful ship. Hermione’s eyes widened.
Getting out of the car, Sirius spoke to the driver and turned to his date for the night. “This way, please.” He escorted her to a door where a member of the ship’s crew ushered them to an elegant table by a large window. Reaching their table, Sirius helped her with her wrap handing hostess, then held her chair. He was determined to show her how a real man treated a woman and that he was a gentleman, before taking his seat across from her. He wanted her to see that he was worth a relationship.
Hermione was looking out the window as the ship began to move. He knew she had done a lot of things in her life, but a dinner cruise was not one she had experienced or at least Harry had told Sirius she hadn’t. “This is beautiful, what made you decide on a dinner cruise?” She asked.
Sirius took a sip of his wine before answering. “I wanted to take you somewhere and do something you hadn’t done before. I talked to Harry and Ginny about a dinner cruise. They told me that they didn’t think you had been on one.” He had that famous Black mischievous glint in his eye. As they ate dinner and drank wine the cruise took them past the Houses of Parliament, London Eye and St. Pauls Cathedral. Sirius loved how excited she would get when they would pass a site.
Soft music played the entire cruise. Before dinner, the ship’s photographer asked if he could take their picture and presented them a copy with their dessert. Hermione marveled at what a good picture it was of both. She handed it to Sirius, and he told her it was nice picture, and he would love to have it framed and sit it in the library. She put in in her bag for safe keeping until they returned home.
When dinner was finished, Sirius asked if she would like to go for a walk around the deck and a see the sights from outside. Grabbing her wrap, they walked for a few minutes, before stopping and leaning on one of the rails watching the sights of London pass. They saw London’s wonderous skyline with the Gherkin, Walkie Talkie, Cheesegrater, Canary Wharf and The Shard. As the night continued the three-hour cruise, they saw the Tower of London, the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, HMS Belfast and The New Globe Theatre. Each rich in its own history and they talked about the history. She knew things he didn’t, and he knew things she didn’t know.
“This has been a wonderful evening, Sirius.” She told him looking into his grey eyes. He was sure she could see into his soul.
He watched her, he could tell she was nervous and the last thing he wanted was for her to be uncomfortable. “Thank you. It has been a lovely evening. You deserved to be treated like this all the time.”
“Thank you, but most of the men I’ve dated only want one thing.” She said looking out at the lights on the water.
“Then all those other guys don’t know what they’re missing.”
The rest of the evening went by relatively quietly. Some small talk and conversations about the ministry. When the ship docked, the car was there to pick them up and whisk them back to Grimmauld place. The ride home was over to quickly for both. Neither was sure what to do next, they went inside. Sirius put her shawl back on the coat rack in the hall.
Hermione kissed him on the cheek, “Thank you, I had a wonderful time.” She then disappeared upstairs.
Sirius untied his tie letting it hang around his neck. Unbuttoned his jacket and headed for the kitchen. Grabbing a juice, he sat in his normal chair to ponder the evening. He had really enjoyed himself and Hermione looked so beautiful. She was one of the only women other than Lily and Andromeda that could hold his interest in conversation. She also wasn’t afraid to call him on something when he was wrong or acting a fool, though he had settled a great deal since coming out of the veil and he thought the main reason for that was her. Yawning he stood and made his way upstairs, glad tomorrow was Saturday and he could sleep in.
Sirius woke on Saturday morning to the smell of coffee. That lured him out of bed and down to the kitchen where he found Hermione sitting on the counter reading something in the paper. "Good Morning, you're up early", he said pouring himself some coffee. He leaned against the counter next to her.
"Good Morning." She answered not looking up. "Did you know that the aurors have arrested twenty-seven for using dark magic?"
Smiling at the floor, "Really, and how would I know something like that?"
She began to laugh as it dawned on her. "Sorry, I guess I forgot for a minute that you're the head of that department. Why didn't you tell me you were so close to getting these guys?”
"We haven't really seen each other this week and when we did one or both of was in a hurry or too exhausted to talk." He watched her as she nodded her agreement and went back to reading.
“You want some breakfast?” he asked her.
Seeing her look up over the paper she was reading, he raised an eyebrow. “Are you going to cook? Can you cook? She asked him to tease. Both knew he was a good cook. “Yes, I would love some breakfast.”
He made them breakfast while she continued to sit on the counter reading the Daily Prophet. “Sirius this says that the trouble on Wednesday could have been a lot worse if it hadn’t been for your quick thinking.” He thought he saw something in her eyes that wasn’t there yesterday. Something close to admiration.
“I was just doing my job”, he said very nonchalantly. Handing her a bowl of his famous breakfast mash up as Harry called it. It contained eggs, bacon, sausage and hash browns all mixed up together. When he made it for just Hermione and himself, he added onions and green peppers. He leaned against the counter beside her and ate. Normally they would sit at the table but somehow this felt right.
When they were finished eating, he took both bowls and placed them in the sink telling her he would do them later. He watched her as she picked up the paper and continued to read. Instinct took over, Sirius moved in front of her and took the paper she was reading, he looked into her eyes to see she was watching his. He lowered his head a little to see if she would pull away or object, when she didn't, his lips found hers in a short gentle kiss. He placed his forehead against hers for a few seconds, then he turned and walked out of the room leaving Hermione staring at his back, letting her fingers feel the warmth on her lips where his had been. Sliding off the counter, she followed him.
She found him in the library. "Sirius, what was that?"
"What was what?" He asked.
"In the kitchen just now?" She told him stepping closer to him.
“Breakfast.” He told her
“After breakfast.” She said giving him a look that was between irritation and amusement.
"Oh, well I think it was called a kiss." He was playing with her and he knew she knew it.
Stepping even closer to him, "Oh! So that's what you call it. Well that was nice, but Sirius this is a kiss." Hermione pulled his head towards hers and kissed him. This was a deep, sensual kiss that left them both breathless. When she broke the kiss and turned to leave the room, Sirius grabbed her hand pulling her to him, kissing her once again.
Pulling away, she rested her head on his chest. Sirius was the first to speak, "Hermione, I think we need to talk about this." Stepping away from him, she sat down on the leather sofa. Sirius sat next to her but not touching.
She looked at him no emotions that he could read in her eyes, "You wanted to talk, talk."
Reaching out he moved a strand of hair from her face and took her hand in his. "Until recently I thought of you as a child, Harry's best friend." She started to say something put he placed a finger on her lips. "I'm not sure when, maybe the weekend when we were in the pool, I have come to realize you’re not a child. You've become a beautiful, sexy woman. You're smart, caring and loyal to those you care deeply for. You're passionate about your job. You've accomplished more at your age then any woman in wizarding history and you've done it without compromising what you believe in and I've found that I am most intrigued by you."
She looked at him, he was opening his heart to her. “Intrigued? Interesting choice of words."
"Okay, how about fascinated, attracted, captivated."
She gave him a smile, "I think I like those words. What do you want from me? I'm not sleeping with you, Sirius."
"Hermione, there are several ways to want someone. I'd be lying if I said the thought of taking you upstairs and making love to you for hours hasn't crossed my mind, but for now I want us go on dates, hold hands, put my arms around each other, kiss until we are breathless and get to know one another in the romantic sense. Build a relationship that will last. Develop something based on mutual respect, trust, interest's, communication and eventually love." He released her hand and sat back on the couch.
He knew from the look on her face that she was thinking about what he had said, she was looking in his eyes seeing the question there. "I would like to work on a relationship”, she said. It was as if they both gave a sign of relief. He smiled, as he picked up the book from the table and began to read. He watched her with a smile as she got up, finding a book of her own, sitting at the other end of the sofa and put her feet in his lap like it was something she did every day. It wasn't long before he absentmindedly began to gently message her feet. His eyes hadn't left the pages he was reading. Slowly as the hour slipped by, he felt her scoot closer to him until she was leaning on him. He put his arm around her, taking the book from her hand and putting it on top of his on the table. Reaching down he lifted her chin to look at him, his eyes asked the question and she nodded her consent. He leaned down and kissed her, over and over.
Once they broke apart, both needing air, Hermione looked at the man next to her, "You are going to the Burrow tomorrow, aren't you?"
"I'll go, but I want to go with you as a couple. I don’t want to make excuses for why I look at you or smile at you. I’d also like to tell them that we're dating." He knew there would be some fall out, but he wanted to build a life with her if she would let him.
He saw her looking at him, "Sirius Black are you asking me to be your girlfriend and you want us to be exclusive?" She asked unsure of what he would say.
"Yes, I guess I am. We can call it anything you want as long as it's you and me, us together and yes, I want to only see you, but if you want to see other guys, tell me now." He had decided he's come this far it was time to lay it all out there. Bare his heart and soul to her. "Hermione, it's taken me a lifetime to find someone I could see having a future with. Someone I want to settle down with, maybe in the future get married and have a family. I think I've found that in you, but I don't want to get in any deeper if you don't want the same kind of relationship with me. You and I have known each other a long time. We know each other's pasts. We've spent how many hours talking about me being in Azkaban and your time fighting in the war. You know most of my weaknesses and fears. I know what scares you and your strengths. We both know what makes the other sad and what makes them happy. You can't live with someone and not learn some things, but there is still more to learn about each other. Like I don't know what your grandparents did for a living or how your parents fell in love. There is so much more to learn about you. I don't know if want children someday, I don't know if you even like children, just because you love Teddy. I know we have an age difference, and sometimes it makes me feel I shouldn’t feel this way, but I do. I’m doing everything I can to not let it bother me. Harry, Ginny and Andi have all told me that it doesn’t matter if we truly care for one another. Does it bother you?"
Hermione kissed him lightly, "no it doesn't bother me. Sirius, I want all of that too. I've cared about you for more years than I want to admit. I think I gave you part of my heart the day Harry and I rescued you from the dementors. In our fifth year I had such a crush on you, and I don't think it ever went away. Yes, I was in love with Ron, or thought I was, but there was always a little part of my heart that belonged to you even though we thought you were dead. When you came back, I kept that part of my heart locked away because I was in love with Ron. When he and I broke up, that portion was free to be unlocked, but I never thought I would have any chance with you. I thought you would always see me as a child." She reached up and cupped his face. "I would love nothing more than to work on an adult, respectful, mutual and exclusive relationship. For the record, if the right man captures my heart, I would love to have his children." They spent the rest of the day talking, and kissing. When dinner time came, he built a fire in the firepit outside, while she made sandwiches. They had decided to eat outside since it was a beautiful night and it would begin to turn colder before many more days.
As they sat together talking and having the dinner Hermione prepared, a thought came to her, "You realize when we arrive together at the Burrow, Molly will have something to say. You know she will object to this relationship."
Sirius sat up a little straighter, wrapping his arm around her. "I don't really care what Molly Weasley thinks. The only one whose opinion matters is Harry's and we already have his approval."
"I know Ginny will support us." Hermione was rubbing her hand up and down his arm.
He kissed her temple, "Good, I don't plan on hiding what I feel or what I want any longer."
"Settled then, we don't care what Molly says?" She asked standing.
He stood and wrapped his arms around her in a warm hug, "No, we don't. We can always leave if it gets uncomfortable." They went into the house to clean up and Sirius walked her to her room. He gave her a gentle kiss; turned and went to his own room.
Sunday, late morning, Hermione and Sirius arrived at the Burrow. They were a few minutes late. They entered hand in hand, saw Ginny and Harry smile, some of the other had questioning looks, but Molly frowned. Sirius whose hearing was still sensitive, heard Arthur say, "Molly leave it alone". He knew she wouldn't leave it, so he stayed alert.
They sat together at dinner, with Harry and Ginny close by. Ginny knew her mother would lecture Sirius if she got him alone. Both she and Harry thought this relationship was a good idea, they had seen the change in both of their friends in the last few weeks. While the two couples talked with George and Angelina, Sirius absentmindedly put his arm around Hermione. This brought a glare from the Weasley Matriarch, not that it did her much good, he didn't move, Hermione seeing the scowl, leaned closer to him.
Later in the day while Ginny and Hermione were talking and the men were outside admiring Arthur's newest find, Sirius was coming out of the loo, when Molly grabbed him and drug him into the room she shared with her husband. "Sirius Black what in the name of Merlin do you think you are doing with that child?"
"It's none of your business Molly!" He stated heading for the door but was blocked.
"It is my business." Her voice rising. "Hermione is like a daughter to us and I aim to protect her."
Sirius shook his head. "Just what are you protecting her from, Molly?"
"Sirius, you know I love you, but you are too old for her. While I know the reputation you have isn't true, she's still a child". This time he laughed.
"What's so funny?" Molly asked fuming.
Sirius sat in the chair across from the bed. "Sit down, Molly." She didn't move, "Molly, sit down, let's talk." She finally sat and he began. "I know you think of Hermione as a daughter and for that she is very lucky, but you have to realize she is not a child. She's not that little girl you watched grow going to Hogwarts. She's a grown woman."
"Sirius..." She started but he stopped her.
"Let me finish. The little girl you knew and loved has grown into a beautiful and stunning woman. She's smart, funny, and loyal. She has a passion for her job and her friends and family like none I've ever seen. She knows what she wants out of life and she's not afraid to go get it. Right now, she wants me, and I want her. We aren't sleeping together if that's what's got your knickers all twisted. We are taking things slow and letting the relationship develop. I'm trying to show her that a real man treats the woman he cares about with respect, faithfulness and affection. He makes it about her, not about what he wants. I'm trying to show her that it's a partnership and that she deserves so much more than she's been dealt when it comes to loving someone. I want to show her that she is worth so much more than the men who treat her like a sex object, eye candy or cheat on her. I know Ron is your son, and you want them together, they tried to work it out, but they decided together that it wasn’t working. Their breakup did a number on her. It’s taken her a while, but she’s become a confident woman again in every aspect. There are times she’s still not as confident as she should be especially in the romance department and I plan on changing that. Molly, I'm not out to make her a conquest. I gave that life up when I left school, I want to try and build a life with her and she wants to build a life with me. We want to see if this relationship goes somewhere. Honestly, Molly, she is the only woman I have ever thought I might like to have a family with someday. For now, we want to just be together and nothing you say or do will change that."
Molly sat staring at him. She knew he was speaking from the heart. She had never seen this side of Sirius Black. "All right, I won't interfere, but if you hurt her in anyway, what I did to your cousin is nothing to what I will do to you." She stood hugged him and left the room.
Sirius followed Molly out into the yard where everyone watched to see if she had hexed him. She walked up to Hermione, "I'm not saying I approve, but you are both adults. I'll hold my judgement." Hugging her, Molly walked over to sit by the fire with Arthur and the others.
Ginny, Harry and Hermione gathered around Sirius, "Well?" Ginny asked.
Hermione wrapped her arm around his waist, while laying her hand on his chest as he began to speak, "We talked and she's not happy about things, but she's willing to not interfere unless I hurt you,’ He made a point of looking at Hermione, “ then what she did to Bellatrix will be nothing to what she'll do to me." The four of them joined the rest, Hermione and Sirius wrapped in each other's arms. As the night went on, they became more comfortable with their friends watching their every move. Looking at all those around the fire, Hermione reached up and kissed him knowing that if they could win the respect of this motley group, that they would okay. She smiled at him when the kiss broke, both were happy, they had what they really wanted. She had him and he had her and together they would slowly make a life together.