2009 Valentine's Day Challenge Fic| Pieces of You: Part 3 - After Their Return| NC17

[ceredwensirius]

Title: Pieces of You
Author: ceredwensirius 
Written For: hermionesirius hermionesirius 
Challenge: 2009 Valentine's Day Challenge
Prompt: Angry, Betrayed, Black Hair, Black Leather, Cigarettes, Firewhiskey, Flirt/Flirty/Flirtatious, Gentle, Grimmauld Place, Impulsive, Leather, Lips, Quick Temper, Recluse, Sexy, Smirk, Smoke, Stubble, Tortured
Lyrics:
The hand that wrote this letter
Sweeps the pillow clean
So rest your head and
read a treasured dream
I care for no one else but you
I tear my soul to cease the pain
I think maybe you feel the same
What can we do?
I'm not quite sure what we're supposed to do
So I've been writing just for you- Letter to Hermione, by David Bowie
Rating: NC17 (By the last chapter)
Pairings: Hermione/Sirius
Word Count: 3,729/15,000
Summary: Sirius escorts Hermione back to England at Harry's request
Disclaimer: Not my characters.
Author's Note: I've been promising this one shot for months so I'm hoping that this challenge will force me to finish it. LJ wouldn't let me put it all on one post so even though it is, as of this moment, only 3/4 complete, I'm posting. Thank you to my lovely betas ilexx  AKA pelespen  and also wickedswanzfor looking this over. If you follow my drabbles at grangerblack100  you will recognize pieces of this which have been posted in the past, particularly in Part 3.

 

 

 

After their return…

 

Spending so many days with Hermione and her gentle compassion, Sirius’ feelings had deepened into dangerous waters. It was nearly painful to be in her presence and not be able to express how he felt. Vibrant, beautiful and driven; she was worth far more than he and was something he knew he would never have.

It would be unacceptable for him not to show his face at Ginny and Harry's Sunday ritual at Grimmauld Place the following day, so he spent as much time as possible as Padfoot. The simple mind of a dog didn't experience the complicated emotion of passionate love and was an escape he needed.

Chasing James and Teddy around the backyard as a dog helped tremendously. The voices that whispered like knives in his soul were silenced along with his hopeless desire for a life with Hermione.

The squeals of delight from the boys were truly wonderful to hear. When he pounced on James as Padfoot and then turned back into Sirius to tickle him, Teddy came to James' defense, making a valiant attempt at tickling Sirius.

They were a jumbled pile of squealing, laughing, grunting grass stained boys; just boys, all of them.

Sirius was having so much fun that he didn't notice that the voices hadn't returned even though Padfoot wasn't there to protect him.

"Well, that doesn't look so bad," he heard from the patio where the adults were gathered. At that particular moment he didn't count himself among their number.

The voice was feminine and familiar, the most significant sound in his world, and it made him look up from the shoe he had just removed from Teddy's foot so he could tickle it.

The young woman who had acted as his lifeline on the train ride back to England had just arrived and joined Remus, Tonks, Harry and Ginny at the patio table.

For just a moment he allowed himself to be a man as he gazed on her youthful form, but the squirming boy who was trying to escape his clutches tugged at his attention.

Turning back to the foot, he growled playfully, and then laughed at the delighted, breathless laughter that resulted from tickled boy foot.

"I can't breathe," shrieked a giggling red-faced Teddy.

"Don't be silly," said Sirius, grinning. "If you couldn't breathe you wouldn't be able to tell me that you couldn't breathe."

Releasing the foot that he held, he made a grab for the other and relieved it of its shoe. James launched himself at Sirius, using his weight as a counter balance to topple the adult wizard over. Despite these efforts, Sirius did not lose his prize and a new peal of rushed, hysterical giggles erupted from Teddy.

"Uncle Sirius is rather ticklish under his arms," offered Remus, gaining a playful glower from his old friend.

"No fair telling my secrets, Moony," accused Sirius. "Goes against the code, you traitor!”

"Boys, time to wash up," called Ginny, motioning to Teddy and James.

The two small boys gave Sirius wide grins before departing for the house. Slowly, Sirius stood to his full height, muscles he had forgotten about groaning in their discomfort.

Standing on the patio, Hermione watched him and Sirius felt a pang in his heart over something he couldn't have. The freedom and exhilaration he had just experienced evaporated in the light of this realization, darkness settling into him once again.

For a moment he couldn't get any air, couldn't make his lungs perform their sole function and he panicked because he didn't know how he was going to make it through dinner.

"Sirius? Are you alright?" His angel of mercy took a few steps onto the freshly cut grass in his direction.

"Fine," he grunted and brushed past her brusquely, irritated and nearly angry at his hopeless situation.

"Sirius?" she asked again and he could hear the confusion in her voice.

"Just leave it, Hermione," he said, repeating his words from the train, before entering the house, slamming the door behind him.

~o~

“What the hell happened on that little trip, Hermione?” asked Harry, anguished and angry. “He’s so much worse now!”

“I…I don’t know what to say, Harry,” she replied. “He actually opened up a little. I was getting through. Then we get home and…” she trailed off.

“You realize that because your letters were so promising we planned a party in his honor, here, tonight!” Harry beat his fist against the old oak table. “FUCK!”

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered.

~o~

The stars that twinkled gaily beyond the windows of the abandoned conservatory seemed to mock him with their apparent happiness, just as delighted as the house full of people if the softly thumping music was anything to go by. Well, he wasn't happy here and refused to pretend just to please them. No one understood, only Hermione had bothered to try and only the once. He was far too complicated for them to comprehend, too much tragedy and horror for them to wrap their pathetically happy minds around. It was all too little, too late. Releasing a sigh, he glared at the stars and how they dared him to reach for happiness too.

"Sirius?" An irritated feminine voice sounded on the other side of his self appointed prison.

"Go away, Hermione," he pleaded softly, checking his temper before speaking.

The door opened, her figure silhouetted against the soft light from the gas lamps that lined the fourth floor hallway. Refusing to acknowledge her, to accept that she wouldn't obey his command he kept his gaze on the stars, mutinously cursing them for sending the source of his trouble to check on him.

"Come downstairs." It wasn't a request or polite or any of the things he felt it certainly should be given that he was her elder.

"Just because we took a trip together doesn’t mean I take my orders from you," he said gruffly, groaning when he heard the door close behind her, followed by quiet steps into the room.

"You're such a child," she said angrily. “I understand your pain but you have to try to move forward!”

He was off of the window ledge and to her before she could blink, shoved roughly against a wall as the breath left her body, knocking over the potted skeletons of long forgotten vegetation.

"Leave me be, you arrogant little bitch!" he hissed through his teeth.

"No," she whispered bravely, and he could see a slight show of fear in her eyes. He considered mocking her for questioning the wisdom of disturbing him and the phrase, 'let sleeping dogs lie' amused him for just a moment.

"Why not? Tell me what you hope to achieve with this encounter." He gave her a light shake and hoped she could see the desperation in his eyes.

"Harry needs you," she pleaded and the softness in her tone made his head spin a little. "Can't you see what this is doing to him? I know it’s hard,” she said quietly. “But your name is cleared, and that’s your party going on downstairs. You have everything you ever wanted!"

"Not everything," he rasped desperately. How was he supposed to tell her that ever since that night on the train he imagines he sees his forever when he looks at her and the falsity of that hope is devouring his soul faster than a Dementor could ever hope to?

"What then?" she asked and for a moment he thought he saw determination in her eyes. Then her hand rose, tentatively, and he saw her swallow before cupping his scruffy, stubbled jaw with gentle fingers. "What is it you need to make it right, Sirius?"

"Something I will never have," he whispered before releasing her, utterly defeated, and returned to his seat by the window so he could curse the stars some more. He hoped that his drama would spur her to leave him be but the sound of retreating footfalls which he expected to hear were strangely absent.

"You are so ridiculous! You sound like you’re Cinderella and its five minutes to midnight!" She followed him to the window standing just a foot behind him in the darkened room.

"I'm who?" he said, pulled momentarily out of his misery by her foreign accusation.

"Cinderella, she had a fairy godmother who turned her into a princess-"

Sirius interrupted, his voice laced with wry amusement. "Hermione, exactly how do I remind you of a princess?"

"Because," and now he could hear a note of flustered frustration from her. "Cinderella turned back into a scullery maid at midnight."

"You think I'm gay don't you?" he grumbled, wondering how on earth he gave her that impression.

"No! I mean, I don't know, I never really thought about it. That's not the point!" Hermione stamped her foot against the wood floor.

"Oh, good, so there is one?" He leaned his cheek on the cool glass of the window.

"You sound like your opportunities are all over." She lay her hand and on his arm, her gentle touch felt like fire in his veins. "They're not, you know."

"I'm in love," he blurted out, his sudden confession surprising them both. "And she doesn't know it."

Hermione gave his cheek a solemn kiss. "So go get her," she encouraged sweetly, giving his arm a gentle squeeze before turning to leave him with the stars and his window ledge.

~o~

“He didn’t explain what happened, he simply commented in, what, in passing?” asked Hermione, sharing a booth at the Leakey Cauldron with Harry and Remus.

Harry nodded and swallowed his food. “I asked him if Charity would be joining us this Sunday. She hasn’t come around, well, since right before you came back.”

Remus’ eyebrows quirked up in response to that.

“And?” said Hermione anxiously.

“Oh, right,” said Harry. “Well, he said that it wasn’t on with her anymore.”

“I thought sure it was her,” said Hermione, sounding a little frustrated.

Remus made a gesture of continuation with his hand. “Sure what was who?”

“The night of his party he told me he was in love,” she replied before taking a sip of her tea. “Apparently he hasn’t told whoever she is and he seemed pretty upset about it.”

Remus wiped the quick, surprised smile away before either of his companions noticed.

Hermione pulled back the sleeve on her robes and glanced at her watch. “Merlin’s beard!” she exclaimed. “I’m supposed to meet with a research colleague. We’ll continue this later, yeah?”

Harry watched the retreating back of his best friend with a puzzled expression. “The only witch he’s spent anytime with recently is…” Harry came to a full stop.

“Took you long enough,” said Remus, rather smug.

~o~

“Look, Moony,” said Sirius. “She lost the cottage in Hogsmeade. Why are you making such a big deal about this?”

“Big deal?” asked Remus carefully.

“I offered her a place to stay, she accepted and that’s that, alright!” Sirius knocked back a shot of whiskey and then wiped a bit of sweat from his brow.

“That’s, that,” repeated Remus. “Alright.”

“Fuck, Mooney!” bellowed Sirius. “What is it with the twenty questions?”

Remus lips twitched as he watched his considerably more animated of late friend storm from the room.

~o~

“You really think it’s her?” asked Harry.

“Look at the facts,” replied Ginny. “Sirius comes back from New Guinea a bigger basket case than when he left, then Hermione’s money runs out, he gives her free lodging and moves her in and now he’s suddenly calm again, normal even. It has to be her.”

“You really think it’s her?” asked Harry, again.

Ginny rolled her eyes and patted his hand. “I’d get used to the idea if I were you.”

~o~

Evening closed softly over number twelve, Grimmauld Place and per usual, Sirius had made an excuse to join Hermione in the drawing room where they sipped tea and read from their chosen material; Sirius pondering over an article in Transfiguration Today and Hermione quietly sighing over a handsome leading man.

When Sirius stretched out on the couch, placing a pillow behind his head, Hermione's gaze crept over the top of her book to take him in. Long legs encased in tight blue jeans, his feet poked out the bottom and he was wiggling his toes. With a quiet sigh, her eyes trailed up to his form fitting grey T-shirt with 'Property of Gryffindor Lions' emblazoned on the front. Well muscled arms covered in soft, black hair poked out of the short sleeves, leading to strong hands with long, careful fingers which curled around the pages of his magazine.

When a finger turned a page, Hermione caught herself gawking at him. Refusing to draw comparisons between Sirius and the broody, raven haired protagonist in her Muggle romance novel, she shook her head to clear it of the less than entirely respectful thoughts. Excusing herself to bed, she stood up to leave Sirius in the drawing room, giving him no clues to her current leanings where he was concerned. Whoever had captured his heart was a lucky lady in her opinion and she assumed it must be going passably well as his mood lately was slightly improved.

"How are things going with your lady love?" she asked, paused by the door which led out of the drawing room.

"Oh, you know, I catch her ogling me from time to time but I haven't made my move yet," he replied. She couldn't quite place why the look in his eyes made her feel slightly anxious, warm even.

"I'm glad to hear she appreciates you, too," she said softly, turning away as cold wave of disappointment washed over her.

"I'm not sure if she is ready to hear of my feelings for her," he confessed. "I'm afraid she'd run away and not give us a chance."

"That's silly, Sirius," replied Hermione. "Just tell her how you feel."

"I will. Sleep well, Hermione."

Something in his tone sounded vaguely amused but the smile on his face was content somehow, genuine and pleased. With her book clutched in her hand she climbed the stairs, thinking of the leading man in her novel who now bore an uncanny resemblance to Sirius.

~o~

Poised at the pool table, bent over and deliberately giving Hermione a choice view of his derriere, Sirius took a sly look at her from over the arm that was tensed to knock the eight ball into a corner pocket. He could tell she was second guessing her motivations for coming, which he assumed were wrapped up in having proximity to him. While he hadn't planned on setting out to win her, believing the witch to be too far out of his league to even hope for, he still chuckled over the powerful motivating factor that was jealousy.

Somehow, he had charmed her into his interest by mentioning he was in love with someone, a someone she didn't realize was in fact herself.

Years spent in a cell in Azkaban had afforded him an attribute he didn't come by honestly; patience and the ability to wait a situation out.

Now looking at her, sitting alone at a table in a Muggle billiard room while her friends all enjoyed themselves, he decided to reward her with a little of that proximity she was after.

With a practiced move that he thankfully hadn't lost from his younger days, he knocked the black ball into the chosen corner pocket, rolling it in with a heavy thunk and gave his godson an infuriatingly smug look over having beaten him, again.

Still laughing while twirling the long piece of polished wood in his fingers, he practically pranced over to Hermione's table and fell heavily into a chair opposite hers with a careless grace.

"You look like you're having a marvelous time," he said sarcastically.

"I don't know how to play," she said honestly, with a wistful look at her friends. Physical activities had never come easily to her.

"May I offer my services as an instructor?" he asked while holding the wood out for her to take.

"You don't mind?" she replied eagerly, but didn't wait for his answer to curl her fingers around the long shaft.

Sirius brushed a finger over her knuckles as they exchanged ownership. "Course not!" he answered, thinking privately that she was lovely when she blushed.

Ten minutes later he was rethinking the wisdom of this plan while simultaneously praising its brilliance. He was standing behind her, flush against her body which was soft and small and warm and oh, god, wonderful and torturous and agonizing. He could feel her tremble and knew it had nothing to do with fear which tempted him further. If they were alone in this bar there would be nothing at all to stop him from spinning her around and kissing her senseless.

Sirius swallowed.

May as well lay it on thick as long as I've got her here.

His arms wrapped around her from behind, gently guiding her posture and finger positioning. He kept his voice deliberately low and soft, the scent of her hair invading his senses as he spoke in her ear so he could arouse her with the feel of his warm breath. Teaching her how to break the triangular cluster of balls on the felt green table was, in his opinion, a brilliant piece of seduction.

Hermione gave a weak thrust and Sirius laughed softly in her hair, praising the effort if not the skill.

Sirius wasn't the only one impressed with his gentle seduction. Ginny tipped her drink to him when she caught his eye before turning to her husband to whisper something in his ear.

Thirty minutes later, after helping her sink all the balls and letting her take full credit, a flushed and glowing Hermione excused herself to the loo.

"Subtle, Padfoot," remarked Remus sarcastically, as he sidled up to the table.

"I'd say so since she hasn't a clue," replied Sirius snarkily.

Hermione returned a few minutes later, much more composed with a slightly sad look to her. She didn't go near Sirius, keeping a safe distance between them and standing with Ginny and Tonks, her female friends.

"You need to be more careful," said Harry protectively, having left the girls to confront Sirius. "She's stupid for you, you know that right?"

Sirius grinned. "The feeling is mutual."

"So what are you waiting for?” asked Remus as he set up the table for a new game. "You do remember all that nonsense you said to me regarding Dora, don't you? It applies to you as well."

"The second I make my intentions clear that little lioness is turning into a rabbit and running down into her warren and the-"

Remus cut him off. "-then the chase is on, Padfoot. You do remember how to chase, yes?"

"Shut it, you," growled Sirius. "I really don't want to make her feel uncomfortable."

"You already do that," said Tonks, after learning nothing interesting from Hermione and eager to bait Sirius. "I swear, watching you teach her to play pool was like witnessing some sort of bizarre human mating display."

"Hear that, Moon?" teased Sirius playfully. "Your witch wants a little more, uh, display in her life."

"Nice foreplay, Sirius," said Ginny brazenly, walking up to slip her arms around Harrys's waist.

Sirius looked up to see Hermione walking over but was still safely out of ear shot in the loud, crowded and smokey bar.

"Last time I checked that was just flirting, Ginny, maybe my godson needs a few pointers." Sirius looked away from Ginny to smile at Hermione who had just walked within hearing distance.

"Oi!" exclaimed Harry indignantly but wasn't able to properly defend himself because no one wanted to explain to Hermione what they'd been discussing. The lull in conversation was conspicuous and was the sort of thing that makes a person believe they were being gossiped about. Hermione's facial expression was one of puzzlement under which lay a slight bit of suspicion.

"Something going on?" she asked cautiously.

"Oh, we're just teasing Sirius about the witch he is chasing," said Harry, triumphantly putting Sirius on the spot, punishment for questioning his masculine prowess.

"She's here?" Hermione's words were aggressively spoken. She blushed scarlet immediately after but didn't offer an excuse.

"As a matter of fact, yes, Sirius was just being ridiculously obvious with her only a few moments ago," answered Remus with a smug grin for Sirius.

Hermione frowned for a moment. "That's odd," she said with a resigned voice that Sirius hated to hear. "I wonder if this particular pub attracts a lot of magical folk?"

"Not really," answered Tonks. "There are a few watched by the Ministry but this is not one of them."

"Oh," said Hermione, momentarily stymied. "I'd love to meet her sometime." Then added with a teasing grin. "See if she is good enough for you."

The guffaws and titters of laughter from her friends were slightly over done for the mild tease and Hermione's face held a tinge of disbelief.

"I think you'd like her," offered Ginny, giving her a friend a piercing look and then sighing impatiently when Hermione didn't catch on.

"Enough," growled Sirius dangerously, regretting it instantly as he realized by the look on Hermione's face that he may have just clarified something for her.

He watched as she looked at each of their friends in turn, none of whom looked innocent. The wheels in her brain were nearly audible to him and glances from her to him by the others were far less than subtle.

Abruptly she glanced at her watch. "It's late," she said quietly. "Thank you for the lesson, Sirius, it was lovely."

Grabbing her purse and offering swift good byes, Hermione left quickly, clearly unprepared for certain realities.

When the door to the pub closed after her, Sirius turned on his companions with a murderous glint in his eyes.

"I've suffered losing my best friend, being betrayed by another, Azkaban, that damn drapery and now that I am finally free to pursue a life the way I see fit, you lot stick your bloody chuckles in and chase the girl off. If my methods offend, don't bloody well watch," he snarled. Grabbing his jacket, Sirius swung it onto his shoulder as he exited in a foul temper.

 

Part 2 | Part 4

Comments

[siriuslyinluv71.livejournal.com]

Okay if you don't post part 4 now... Sirius will look like pretty little kitten compared to me!!

Man... what the fuck?

This is brilliant...

And yes I caught the drabbles you posted earlier. That time I was confused about Sirius' character... but now... IT ALL COMES TOGETHER...

Wow.

Just Wow.

If I was Sirius I would smack/hex the shit out of everyone in the pub! How dare they!?! That was so immature! Not funny at all! Sirius is in love with the girl... she is not some silly shag, they can mess up!

Anyways... all of them deserve to get hexed or bitch slapped.

Preferably bitch slapped... get it???

If you don't... then my joke was horrible.

[ceredwensirius.livejournal.com]

I've got about 2000 words of it written. I have to work on the award comm tonight so I'm uncertain if I will finish it tonight or not. Then I have to wait for my beta to look it over.

Oh, and your definitely a kitten Miss I-live-in-a-diferent-time-zone.
*giggles*
*sticks tongue out*

I'm glad it all came together. The drabbles are altered here to fit the piece. I'm glad you think it comes together because it started off sounding pretty schizophrenic.

I didn't get the joke but I did laugh regardless. Does that count?

[siriuslyinluv71.livejournal.com]

Bitch = female dog...

Sirius = dog

Sirius bitch slapping them....

Now?

[ceredwensirius.livejournal.com]

Sorry.

*is slow*

[disby.livejournal.com]

It is wonderful to see that you've extended the life expectancy of your brilliant drabbles into a multi-chaptered fic...as a reader, the feeling comes close to that of a paleantologist who gets to vacation in Jurassic Park!

Please do post soon!!It's like a beautiful amalgamation of all the various characteristics of Sirius that you have portrayed in all your writings till date! Very well on the way of becoming your master piece I must say!
An oasis to someone who had to spend their last two weeks re-reading Innocence for the third time:)
(Err..not that I was a thirsty desert traveller or anything, considering I still enjoy discovering some things that I might have overlooked in some chapters!!Just that I didn't have proper internet access during the time, not to mention I hardly switched on my PC for a whole month...But I'm back now and I hope things at work would have settled down a little)

[ceredwensirius.livejournal.com]

Well, thank you. That's a very cute and awfully flattering analogy.

I am trying to obey the wishes of my readers and provide some greater context for the drabbles, so with the last chapter I'm trying to work a few of them in.

Things at work are sort of settling down. There is still the issue of the project for the districts with the hard deadline and while we haven't seen as much activity as I anticipated, we did get the word on that just before the holidays. I was in that bogus training class all morning so we'll see what my inbox looks like when I get back from lucch.