PERCHANCE TO DREAM Ch. 3 "You Never Forget"
Ch. 3 "You Never Forget"
Rating: NC17
Sirius/Hermione
Ch. 3 -
Each new day the sun tried to come out on its chilly November morning gave new feeling to the house. As it settled on its ancient foundation, creaking with every other step down the staircase, it was a constant reminder that life does move on. It evolves into something grander from the grand and more unique with each passing day.
That morning of all mornings, Hermione felt more than confident with the progress she and Sirius were making together. Though they were already an item, the small walls they had subconsciously built up in order to tear down were beginning to crumble and as she walked into the kitchen, the sounds of tinkering cups and sizzling pans met her with a particular uplifting beat in her heart.
Remus sat at the end of the table; the Daily Prophet propped up and open to read before him. He was still relaxing in his robe and butter was being smeared over his toast. He blindly stirred the spoon without touching it and was reading the latest Quidditch scores aloud.
"Ireland came in again? Blimey, they're really trying to prove themselves this season, aren't they?" Sirius stood in front of the stove, already dressed for his day in charcoal colored slacks and a maroon buttoned shirt. His waistcoat and jacket lay on the back of a chair. He glanced over his shoulder and smiled when he saw Hermione. "Hello, love," he said with a husky voice aged to perfection.
Hermione smiled back and went to his side, her hand resting low on his back. She watched as he carefully turned over eggs with a flick of his wand, "How come I don't see you do this very often?"
He gave her a sly wink, "I'm full of many surprises."
She hesitated, but then rose on her toes to leave a kiss on his cheek, tickling her lips with the side of his beard. As she came down, Sirius turned where he stood, placing both hands to the side of her face and kissed her properly, like he'd never been happier to have her there. The air left her lungs immediately for he never caught her off guard like that, since the day she came back. His passion was intense, his hands gripped gently and his lips were determined to make her know that he loved her.
As they pulled away, she was breathless more than he was, she added, "It's things like that, that make me want to quit the Ministry." She let a finger trail down his neck, lightly touching his Azkaban barcode.
He smiled again. His entire demeanor displayed peace and contentment. The situation was settling well with him, even with the adjustments and there was no doubt by the look in his eyes that he did not want anything else.
"I would leave, but haven't anywhere else to go at the moment," Remus said in a monotone voice, not looking up from behind the Prophet.
Shaking her head from Sirius's grip and bringing herself back to reality, she felt the uncomfortable third set of eyes that weren't on them. She quickly pulled away and cleared her throat, "Sorry, Remus. I forgot to say good morning."
Sirius resumed his cook duties and finished preparing breakfast for all three of them. Their conversation was moderate, with the topic returning to the subject of whether Harry should know about Hermione's journey and her visit with his parents. After weighing the pros and cons, the tally that concluded Harry not know. Should Harry discover her journey, questions would arise to why his parents were not saved. No matter how Hermione would have tried to justify her travels, Harry would not be satisfied, nor would he understand. The journey of the Time Turner would forever remain a secret between Sirius, Hermione and Remus.
0o0o0o0o0
It had been over a week since Hermione's initial return. Things were slowly shaping up into a bit of normalcy and the energy around the house was a happy one. Secrets were kept, should they have any visitors, and Hermione and Sirius played it off rather well that they were merely flat mates. Of course, once the sun went down and they retired to bed, she would sneak into his room undetected from any overnight guests.
The soft high thread count sheets covered Hermione's body with a silky sheath. She turned into its crevices, nestling her body into its confines while lying on her side to look at the handsome wizard that faced her. His arm was draped around her slender waist, while she took a finger and traced each line of his tattoos. She admitted she was somewhat fascinated with them.
He sighed heavily with his sense of contentment. Having her close and preoccupied with anything having to do with him was more than he could ask. His eyes studied every minor detail on her: from the way her hair fell over her shoulders, to the freckle on her neck, to the subtle twitch of her lip as she spoke. His fingers traced circles over the small of her back, biding his time until he could love her freely.
In the late hours of night, when the moon was only half, there was still enough light to silhouettes in dark places. The foundation of the house settled; its old staircases and walls giving off a random creak in the silence. Portraits were in the midst of sleeping standing up, while others were grateful to have been painted a chair along with them for added support.
Beyond the third door, on the third landing, was where Sirius and Hermione hid their secret. Underneath soft sheets and a cozy warm comforter, the young witch wrapped herself around the former Azkaban prisoner with every limb she possessed. Still very clothed, she snuggled against him like they were naked, hoping for the brief touch of flesh to flesh.
They'd made it an entire week without consummating their evident relationship. Sirius still holding fast and not submitting to her temptations thus far, he could not help himself when the opportunity presented itself that he might caress the soft skin of her arm or take in the fragrant smell of her hair. She helped him escape from his reality that he did not live the history that was written on him and they were both young together, their future laying before them.
However, Sirius was still a man and he could only hold out for so long. Though he promised himself he would wait, he found that he could only make it so long before his other side started to whisper encouraging thoughts into his mind and with just a gentle stroke, she would succumb to his desperate desire.
Without even opening his eyes, her young body called to him. He sensed her need and he knew what they both wanted from each other. With a slow start, he moved his hand over her stomach, letting his fingers graze her exposed skin. His hand ventured further, moving down her hip and over her thigh where he began tracing small circles on her arm. She remained still. His hand brushed over her stomach again, hoping to feel the velvet soft skin of her belly, making the tank top she wore rise a little higher. Sirius's fingers followed and he slowly raised his gentle caresses just beneath the rise of her breasts, barely grazing the underside.
He leaned in and began leaving gentle kisses against her temple, soothing her awake. She stirred slightly and turned into him more, blindly feeling for him and running her own hand down his arm. As she settled around him, she felt peace within her body. His hand went over her flat belly again, risking a second touch of the underside of her breast as her shirt slid up. Hermione stopped his hand from traveling on its own and slowly pushed it beneath her shirt to lay intimately on her nakedness. She heard his sharp intake of breath against her ear.
"Touch me," she whispered. Barely opening her eyes, she could only make out his silhouette in the moonlight, but the idea of him was enough to set her free. She was desperate for his touch; for this was the most he'd done since her return.
Her hands started to move over his strong stiff arms, squeezing at the bicep to encourage his fondling. She roamed across his back, feeling his muscles flex under her palms as he moved against her, taking in every shift and every crevice. Her lips left small feather-like kisses down his collarbone and under his neck where she ran her cheek against his hard stubble. Her leg slid next to his, pointing her toes as she felt the soft linen pants he wore and wrapping herself tightly around his waist.
Sirius's hands did what they were told, hesitant at first, but noticeably needy. He cupped each breast at a time, kneading them softly, squeezing pressure occasionally and then rounding his thumb and forefinger around her erect tip, causing her to shiver in his wake. His hand got more brazen, fondling her stronger, harder and with more dire need, that her gasping breaths encouraged him to go on. The way her body reacted to his minor touches, reassured him that she, indeed, wanted this. Other than telling him, he felt her body coupling with him more, pressing against him stronger and willing him to push on...if he dared.
Caressing hands moved her shirt higher, but it was Hermione who took it further by raising it with him and throwing it up over her head. In the slim moonlight coming in through the windows, Sirius could only make out the shadowed contour of the most beautiful creature he'd ever known. He wrapped his arms around her tightly, pressing his body against hers in order to feel the crush of her naked flesh against his bare chest, again. Sensual sensations and a pull in his groin forced him to growl against her neck as he pulled away to trail kisses down her jaw and to her ear, rekindling a lost passion. She welcomed him lovingly, her legs never unwrapping.
He settled in between her and proceeded to slowly thrust himself instinctively against her; his linen pants only hiding so much of his hard muscle now pressing against her juncture protected by a thin fabric of the shorts she wore. She let out an illicit moan for him, dragging her fingernails against his back in desperate need. She wanted him to touch her like he did before, reminding her things hadn't changed, but also to repay years of waiting torture for him.
Determined, she slid a hand down the front of his chest and down between them to the waistband of the soft linen pants he wore.
"I wouldn't do that, little girl," Sirius growled playfully in her ear.
She chuckled lightly, "Like you're really going to stop me in the state you're in."
"I might, if I know what's best for you."
"You are what's best for me, sweetheart. It's always been you."
On that, he pulled away to look at her. His teasing ministrations ceased and they were bonded where they lay. He slid his fingers down her cheek, cherishing her youth and intelligence she wielded with her power. He remembered this side of her only barely, but he would do anything in the world to rekindle what he once knew. Why was he being so thick not to believe that she was just as vested in this as he was? Time had been cruel to him, but forgiving enough to bring her back to him.
He was too still for too long for her and she captured his mouth, running her fingers through his soft thick locks, urging him to push forward. She wasn't letting him go when he'd already started the foreplay and pushed herself to roll on top of him where he took her willingly and without a fight. She pushed herself up on her arms, looking down at her very own prisoner. With a slight smirk to the side of her lips, she bent her head down to him and began leaving a trail of slow seductive kisses over the planes of his heaving chest.
She left him helpless to her touch, for when he moved, she knocked her head back, allowing her brown cascading waves to follow like a tigress on the prowl, leaving her mouth open and tempting; a red gleam could be seen in her eye that she was not letting up.
She may have detected a flicker of fear, but it was severe arousal on his face. He watched her carefully, not wanting to miss a moment as his young witch held him down with determined strength. She licked her lips and slowly bent herself down over him again, picking up where she left off, swirling her tongue and leaving elongated kisses down his torso.
He wasn't a thick man to know where she was going and he leaned his head back against the headboard, watching her with the eyes of a hawk. Very slowly, she snuck beneath the sheets that covered him, but before she was gone he reached to lift a finger under her chin. She looked up; her eyes black with desperate passion and heated arousal in the licking of her lips. She had no plans of stopping. She would follow through with her seductive intentions and Sirius would remain the somewhat innocent, but grateful bystander.
She leaned up to catch his lips, scraping her fingernails over his flat belly and stopping at the waistband of his pants. She moved away, still hovering before him, "You've waited a long time for me."
"I have," he said with a husky voice. He did not hesitate to agree.
"I haven't changed, Sirius," she soothed. "I'm still the same twenty-one year old witch that you had before."
"I told you that you would have to help me remember a few things," he said lightly.
Her hand that lay hesitant at the top of his pants, cautiously slipped beneath. He kissed her with a lasting breath, giving her the confidence to push on. Though she still had at least another week before his promise was up, she committed herself to breaking his word. It appeared that as her hand traveled lower beneath the soft linen of his pants and her fingers brushed over his erect muscle, that she would be successful on her endeavor.
Sirius let out a guttural moan from the gentle caress of her fingers. He slammed his eyes shut, seeing fireworks of worldly colors setting off in brilliant sparks. He imagined himself with her in another life, buried deep inside of her body. He had waited for ages to feel his witch with him freely and uninhibited. He grunted again as her hand swept over his naked skin, reaching to tangle his fingers into her soft brown locks. His audible sounds encouraged her forward and just as if she was silently commanded, slowly gripped him in such a fashion, touching on familiar pressure points. His body jolted over the tingling sensation and he gasped for air as if submerged under water.
Pleased with her immediate response, she wrapped her fingers around his hard muscle whose skin was pulled tight, making it feel smooth and silky in her hand. She made very little effort to please at that point, allowing him to adjust to the new developments and loosening his grip on her hair.
His breath was steady again, no longer gasping to compose himself from the slow easy strokes she had begun. She was patient with him, no doubt waiting for the opportune time to proceed with the inevitable world shattering blow. He knew what was coming.
With one easy slide, Hermione began to stroke her hand up and down his thick shaft, gauging his pressure points by the immediate intake of breath. Each hitch in his throat let out a quiet moan and it was confidence enough for Hermione to speed up her business. He shifted beneath her, his hips thrusting slightly to push the pleasuring notch, but it was when Hermione's other hand began to slide his pants down over his thighs did he feel he was going to be premature.
Soon, Sirius felt bare beneath the sheets. The cool fabric lay against his legs as Hermione positioned herself by his waist. She pulled down the sheets to expose him, his cock standing long and tall, vertical to his body. With a side glance of low lidded eyes, she displayed mouth watering hunger for his taste and slowly licked her lips before bending down and opening her perfect mouth for him.
She kissed his tip gently, feeling his body shudder because of her and ran her tongue down his length to the base. Feeling the power to push on, she slowly ran her tongue up and down his shaft, moving it like on a warm creamy dessert on the verge of melting. After a few more long lasting laps against his thick cock, she opened her mouth wide to take him in entirely.
Pure bliss met his senses like small erupting fireworks on his skin. Her moist mouth was euphoric that it forced her name from his lips in a gratifying sigh. His memory did not serve him right to remember such a thrilling feeling of being held captive by her. Erotic sanctuary had come to him, attempting to forgive his past to deserve such torture.
She slid him back out, licking her tongue to his tip, only to repeat her motion over and over again, building up speed as she went along. She brought him to his very edge, allowing him to ride out his physical jolts of pleasure, practically lifting himself off the bed with each swallow.
"Gods woman! You're going to be the death of me," he slurred, his hips thrusting into her mouth as his shoulders pressed hard against the mattress.
Hermione did not let up, her mouth worked hard against him, taking his cock deeper and deeper. In some disrespect of herself, she believed she owed this pleasure to him. It was her doing that he had to endure a life without her, knowing all that he had, forced to watch what he couldn't have. If she was able to return such pleasure, even at this small cost, it brought her great satisfaction for him to pull her hair gratefully.
Sirius hissed and whispered curses under his tongue, reaching back and holding onto his own bed post for support. He felt the inner animal inside begging to be released, to pull her back up and throw her down, fucking her absolutely senseless until the morning hours, but he refrained. He was bulging from his witch's mouth, being worked hard into an uncontrollable mess of testosterone and desperate endurance. He desired liberation.
Hermione sensed his edge, believing him to be very very close to his release. She tugged on him harder, her mouth closing in on him with ferocious suction and her tongue moving faster than a chameleon. She felt him take a fist full of her hair when he cried out louder profanities. His hips thrust forward, careful not to gag her, and spent himself into her waiting mouth.
Sirius's breathing was coming to a steady pace once again. His heart beat heavy, like coming down off a long rollercoaster of life. He had built himself up for that moment, waiting for her all those years, never knowing if they would be joined again intimately. He reached out for her blindly, pulling her to rest on his chest like a treasured toy. He left a kiss on the top of her head.
Their silence was encouraging. A stepping stone to rebuilding what they once had so many years ago, for Sirius. He closed his eyes to the darkness, a slight grin on his lips, waiting for his body to settle down from its intense pleasure. He heard his angel sigh and felt her hand rest alongside her face, gently tracing her fingers over his skin. Having her home, in his room, half naked next to him was enough for him to die happy that moment.
Nothing was said, but Hermione had only dozed off for a few minutes before she was shifted off of Sirius and lying on her back with him crawling on top of her. Her eyes opened just in time to see him coming in for a searing kiss, where he seized her mouth, claiming her. Her hands were pinned above her head and he moved his hot kisses to her cheek, down her neck where he growled heavily into her ear, nipping her lobe. His released her hands where she mechanically wrapped her arms around his shoulders meeting his lips when he'd let up. He shifted himself between her legs, feeling his way to their parted juncture. He growled again when met with the light cotton of her shorts, but was quick to remove them from her body with not so subtle gestures. She was sure, by the speed of her nudity, they were torn from her and would be in pieces wrapped up in the sheets to be discovered in the morning.
Once their sexes were freed and Sirius took his previous position, no longer obstructed by cotton protection, his entire rhythm slowed to a halt. His intensity softened and he realized that they were about to finish what they had started so many years ago. Weeks for her, but years for him. His mind was on broken hinges and his mouth was practically starving to taste her.
They still said nothing, not even a whisper to continue, no declarations, no pleading, just the sound of steady breathing and the desire to be joined. Sirius ran his skillful hands up along her silky soft thighs, teasing a finger at her juncture where she was wet and waiting. Her breath hitched for him and without realizing it, trembled for his touch. He held her tightly, trailing light kisses along her neck and grazing his teeth against her skin. He was poised and ready, just barely pressing his tip at her threshold.
Silence was their partner, accompanied by subtle panting and the heavy thump of their hearts. They know what they needed from each other, but it was hard to express and instead they kissed with desperate passion. After Sirius would press through, all answers would be final and all requests and long time wishing would be granted. He knew that his heart would never not love her, but would hate her should she discard him.
His tip touched the skin of her bare cunt and she breathed out, "Yes, yes, yes, Sirius."
Their time was up and without any hesitation, Sirius breathed, "I've missed you so much!" He pressed against and up into her, mentally thanking the Gods for that moment.
Her muscles adjusted to his new fit, her nails running hard into his back. She felt just like he had remembered: tight, wet and perfect. She was like a beacon of support, that constant star in his own constellation reminding him of a life still ahead of him. He knew it was to be with her.
Having Sirius inside of her was excruciatingly gratifying. He had changed; his fit was snug, filling her to deeper lengths. He was a man now, far from the boy she was with. He was whole, developed into the man that was sliding out and pushing into her again with deeper force and low grunting. He made her toes curl, he made her skin tingle at every nerve and his lips against her neck were like hot lava. He made her feel complete and his cock was so engorged within her, she wondered if she would ever give herself a minute to enjoy it.
Sirius slid his hands to her wrists, pinning them above her head. He left her helpless beneath him as he proceeded to nudge her legs wider in order to sink himself into her. She moaned her approval, letting him perform for her, leaving her feeling very wanton. He held her down with minimal effort as he made love to her in his old childhood bedroom of Grimmauld Place, never letting up and keeping up a steady pace. Each thrust was harder than the last and each time he plunged into her, his pace quickened, evoking moans of delight from his more than willing partner.
His pulse raced with a new level of intensity. The way she smelled, the way she felt, the way her skin tasted, all brought back memories. Thinking back now, he knew that he never worshipped her enough or told her he loved her before he left. He had been given another chance and as she writhed beneath him, her legs wrapping around his waist as he thrust into her, he found incredible pleasure from hearing his name fall desperately from her lips into his ear.
Hermione felt the slight vibrations as he growled playfully for her and then pulled away to see her expression. He flashed a grin, just enough to see his canine teeth below his top lip. He looked so familiar, but as a stranger at the same time. Hermione kept picturing him as the young vivacious man that followed her around to get her attention, but the image of the same man, years later, welcoming her home for the holidays over Christmas break. It was almost surreal, but calming at the same time.
In an instant, Hermione slammed her head against the pillow, feeling small firework sensations at the tip of her entrance. Sirius had snuck his hand down to where they were joined, flicking her bud that was engorged from the friction. It felt good, it felt euphoric and for a flash she believed she was all alone and unable to control her body from the spasms that were taking place throughout her body. She reached to run her fingers through Sirius's hair to display subtle gratitude to the pleasure he was inflicting, but the foul words coming from his tongue was thanks enough.
Sirius tried to restrain himself from hammering into her, hoping to take it slowly, but their chemistry was unable to be halted. Their unity was intense and she began to leave love bites against him. Overall, it was apparent that Sirius was not fucking Hermione, he was making love to her like he did for the first time.
Her womanly form was wrapped around him so tight, he couldn't remove himself if he tried. He continued to bring her through one rush to the next, while he held his own, not seeking his release yet. His focus was on the young witch he had beneath him, tearing at him with absolute desperate need. She clawed for him, running her fingers down his back with silent pleas to not let up. His witch was insatiable, not wanting him to stop thrusting into her. She had long since pulled his hand from between them in order to suck his fingers clean, aroused by the salty sweet taste of herself left on his fingers. She wanted to be dominated, she wanted him to pin her down and hold her captive.
Sirius sated himself with the allure of her lips and took the liberties of capturing her mouth any chance she wasn't calling his name against his ear. He loved hearing his name, but he loved it more when it was a constant whisper on her tongue begging for him to go deeper. He was losing his own willpower and having brought her to come for the second time that session, he felt compelled to relive an old memory.
He held her wrists above her head and leaned close to her ear. With a voice that could peel paint off the wall, he whispered the Russian spell against her. Hermione panted heavy, her eyes slamming shut as the warm sensation filled her. His body contracted in his hold, his arms weakening over her. He kissed her as he rode it out, his own breath difficult to manage. Their hearts beat as one, barely a word was said and the two remained limb locked for the rest of the night.
0o0o0o0o0o0
The sky outside was overcast. A few morning birds perched on low branches to watch muggle passers-by take to the streets for their morning commute. Just like every other day, someone would casually glance up to the numbers of the houses down the street, smirking to themselves that the building management had obviously made a grave mistake in the numbering between number eleven and number thirteen.
On the third floor, the second door on the left remained quiet. Sirius rolled away from the entrapment of his naked young witch's limbs, laying on his back and rubbing his eyes with one hand. He reached for his pocket watch that was left on his night stand and flipped open the brass catch to check the time. It was earlier than expected. He put the time piece back on the table and turned his head to be welcomed by warm eyes.
She smiled weakly, still in a sleepy state and closed her eyes again as she reached to rest an arm over his chest. "Morning, Sirius," she said quietly.
He smiled back slightly, whispering back and ran his fingers down her soft cheek, cherishing their close proximity. She was beautiful as she lay there next to him. Her hair fanned around her head over the pillow, tussled and untamed. Her slender neck curved to her soft shoulders where the sheets lay dangerously low, exposing the swelling of her breast.
"I'm glad you finally came to your senses," she whispered.
He cupped her cheek in his hand, "I can't turn back, now. I need you to breath."
Her eyes opened refreshed and hypnotized by his grey ones. He had so much to offer and though time was between them, it felt like they were picking up where they left off, only with new intentions. He was so dangerously handsome to her. His shoulders were strong, his chest defined and adorned with tribal tattoos of his incarceration. Her hands reached out to feel him, to have him closer again as she slid her leg over his waist.
"I just feel that I've finally won you, now. It's been a very long road...dreaming of you. Men like you only exist in history books."
He chuckled quietly and said, "I'm just so sorry it took us so long to get back to each other, again."
After a few more minutes of good morning snogging, complete with a few moments of Sirius just "sticking it in for a minute", they got up to have morning tea. Sirius slipped on his linen pants and Hermione was left with shards of her shorts, but settled on just wearing her robe downstairs.
Hermione entered the kitchen with Sirius close on her heels, when they were greeted with the smell of bacon and eggs sizzling in a frying pan on the stove. Next to it, the kettle steamed. Harry and Ron were bustling around the kitchen, while Remus sat at the far end of the table reading the Daily Prophet. They came upon a scene that could have flashed back at least four years ago to a happy, lively kitchen. As Harry stood at the stove, turning over a pair of eggs, he smiled to his best friend and Godfather as walked in. He bid them a good morning and asked if they wanted some breakfast.
The secret couple stopped to survey the room on their own, taking notice with the way Remus acknowledged by adding a slight smirk on his lips. The young wizards seemed to be in light spirits that morning, wearing orange quidditch jerseys of the Chudley Cannons.
"Sirius, eggs? Hermione, there is toast already on the table if you want to help yourself." Harry took no notice at the close proximity Sirius was standing to Hermione as he was just pleased they had more company that morning as they took over Grimmauld Place's kitchen. He glanced to Ron, reaching for the steaming kettle that protested its readiness. "Ron, Sirius likes two sugars."
"I'm not a bloody house elf, mate," Ron joked, giving a nod to Sirius who was still standing behind Hermione in a slightly frigid state. "Hermione, still one sugar?"
As if being doused with water when hearing her name called, Hermione remembered that she was still standing in the kitchen in only her robe and nothing else. Subconsciously, she tightened the terrycloth belt and raised he chin, pretending that she was no unnerved. "Yes, Ron. Thank you."
She paid no further attention to Sirius, making a careful effort to sit on the other side of the large oak table, away from him. She smiled sweetly to Remus, who otherwise could not seem to make his lips unsmirk when she'd catch his attention.
Sirius rounded his shoulders, or rather he slipped into a calming composure. He patted Harry on the back, showing his gratitude and overall affection to see his Godson. He never wanted to seem ungrateful for the times Harry would drop in unannounced. Though the Chosen One was nearly twenty-two these days, Sirius still felt he would forever play the role as "surrogate" father and had years to make up for his absence. It seemed a moot point with Remus having somewhat filled those shoes for awhile. On the other hand, it was a mutual understanding what place Sirius had in Harry's life and if they could turn the clocks back, they would have.
"Well done and scrambled, son," Sirius requested, turning to take his seat on the far end of the table, away from Hermione. He forbid himself to sneak longing looks to the pretty witch sitting next to his best friend, trying to dim his radiating glow.
Ron turned from the counter to bring Sirius his tea. He set the saucer and cup before him and whistled, "Sirius, what happened to your neck? You've two or three deep red marks...are those bite marks?"
Remus pretended to remain mesmerized by the last page of the Daily Prophet, but couldn't help but clear his throat just quietly enough for Hermione to take notice. She snapped her head up just as her cheeks blushed a rose color.
Sirius hesitated, assessing the red marks he could see on his chest. "Ah," he started, clearing his throat, "Must have been this witch I've been seeing."
"Excellent!" Ron exclaimed, admiring Sirius like some sort of icon. "Funny, I haven't seen you with a bird lately."
"It's a fairly new thing," Sirius was quick to add. His voice was calm and convincing, like he had it already scripted in his head.
"You are going to bring her around, so we can meet her?" Harry asked, coming to the table with warm plates of steaming eggs and sausage. There was a heavy clink as he set them on the hard wood table.
"Not right away, I'm afraid. Don't want to scare her away, you know. I carry a lot of baggage, remember," Sirius added, taking a bite of his toast and glancing down towards Remus, but letting his eyes linger just a few seconds over the pretty brunette with the tousled brown hair.
"Wow, mate! Looks like she did a number on you," Ron added with a friendly nudge to Harry, pointing out that he had at least four different markings along his chest and by his collarbone.
From the end of the table, Hermione was in agony over the taboo conversation. They were teetering on endangering themselves, risking the early exposure of their relationship and sitting at the breakfast table naked under a robe was not the way to approach it.
"Do we have to talk about this at breakfast?" Hermione piped up, feigning disinterest. "I hardly think this is decent conversation."
"Sorry, Hermione," Harry said pulling on a bite of bacon. "Hey, where were you? I peeked into your room, but you weren't in there."
Panicking for a second, Hermione looked up, her eyes skimming over Sirius for a second, but managed to convince her friend, "Must have been in the bathroom when you looked in."
"My brothers and I were wondering if you'd be up for a pick up game of quidditch, Sirius." Ron asked, fairly animated to invite Sirius. "We go to this wizard park just on the other side of London." He started to address the rest of the table, or whoever would listen to him, "The outside gates are designed to make it look like an old waste dump." He glanced towards the end of the table at Remus, "Care to join us too, Remus?"
Remus folded his paper and gave Sirius an alarming look when he noticed the markings on his chest. He shook his head and added, "No, I'm starting my old job back at Flourish and Blotts this afternoon."
"Remus, that's brilliant! Please, let me know if anything good comes in, would you?" Hermione said with eager delight. She only wished she had taken advantage of Remus working there the first time he was employed by the bookstore, but it was against the rules. This time would be different.
"Fantastic Moony, just like old times again," Sirius piped up.
"Yes," he began as he stood up, folding the newspaper back onto the table. "But, perhaps you won't be there waiting outside the store for days, waiting for a particular witch to come by and join you." He smirked slightly and glanced briefly to Hermione. He noticed her cheeks perk red as she reached for the newspaper with flashing pictures.
Harry was the first to grin, his eyes on his Godfather. "You sat outside the bookstore for days waiting on a girl?"
Sirius shook his head, his black hair falling before his shoulder as he reached over and stole a piece of Harry's toast. "I was pretty hung up on this witch for awhile, so I had to go to one of her favorite places in order to lure her in."
Hermione remained quiet and still as her eyes traced over the same words to the top story of the Daily Prophet over and over again. She bit her lower lip to remain calm.
"Really? You were falling for a bookworm?" Ron chirped in, grinning as he chewed with his mouth open. Bits of egg fell on his shirt. "Sirius, wouldn't see that for you, mate."
"Well Ron, sometimes you cannot help who you fall for," Sirius said very plainly as he stood to refill his tea. He patted the ginger on the shoulder as he passed.
"Perhaps you should be dating, Hermione," Harry added with a light chuckle, "They don't make them like her, anymore."
"Hmm, tempting, but I think she's out of my league," he chuckled. "What do you say, love? Shall we have a go?" Sirius said in a merry voice, almost testing the taboo and the temperature of the house guests.
Feeling like the tips of her ears had turned as pink as the blood in her head allowed, Hermione got up to refresh her tea as well. As she neared the counter, she couldn't help but reply, "Absolutely."
She stood at the counter next to Sirius, holding her cup out to be refilled with the steaming hot water from the kettle. He gave her a sly wink and whispered, "Perhaps we might need to start locking the door." Hermione only nodded for him, her eyes glancing over at Ron and Harry from time to time to make sure they couldn't hear them. "As well as casting 'Silencio'."
Hermione looked up horrified, "You didn't? I thought you did!"
Sirius shrugged and smirked, setting the kettle back down on the burner, "Wasn't really on my mind at the time."
Hermione's face cringed; feeling scandalized and incredibly embarrassed. She tugged her robe closed a little more, feeling incredibly exposed all of a sudden. Her naked skin brushed past the terrycloth as a reminder of their naughty act. Still, her lips couldn't help but smirk into a slight approving smile.
"So, are you in?" Harry asked, still mashing pancake into his mouth. He and Ron had all but devoured their breakfasts like two savages, with only crumbs left as proof.
Sirius turned around, holding a fresh cup of tea and sipping it carefully, "For quidditch?" He leaned against the counter, his arm just grazing hers.
"I've got no plans today, so I'll come and watch," Hermione added casually. She wanted to spend any time with Sirius that day that she could. Even if it meant watching some coordinated and some not so coordinated wizards balance on brooms.
"Sorry that Ginny is away at University, might be a bit boring for you," Ron said, standing to put dishes in sink.
"No, a good Confundus charm works wonders for entertainment, Ronald," she was quick to add, "If you can remember."
Ron grinned at her for a moment, remembering how she helped him their sixth year at Hogwarts, then ducked his head and walked passed, "Oh, Charlie's in town, so you know he'll be out there if you're out there."
"Your brother, Charlie?" Sirius asked, raising his cup suspiciously to his lips. He couldn't help but flex his chest when he caught Hermione glancing over to inspect the 'bite' marks over his tattoos.
"Yeah, he's got it bad for Hermione, here. Keeps asking when she's free, but I told him to just send her an owl himself. I'm not his bloody secretary!" Ron declared, pushing in the chairs at the table, a habit he certainly picked up from his mother.
Remus had left the kitchen first, eager to get on off to work. Ron was close behind, having grabbed a muffin that was sitting on the counter. As Harry caught the swinging door, he took one last look behind him to see Sirius smiling down at Hermione. They looked peaceful together, friendly and comfortably. It was merely Harry's observation and with only a slight thought on his mind, he left the kitchen.
