Talks

When we set out to publicly destroy a relationship, we really publicly destroy a relationship.

I'm supposed to be resting, go away.

I mean, those boys will never forgive Snape. It was bad enough in Snape's old memories, but he didn't try to cast a 'sectumsempra' on Lily then. This…this was a very big deal.

It went much further than we had planned. Severus lost his head, unfortunately. We hadn't planned on the Marauders coming across us. We assumed it would just be Slytherins.

It might be all for the best. I mean, Pettigrew saw it, too.

Do you suppose he's a Death Eater?

You know that he is. He refused to come see Sirius on Christmas Hols after he was disowned. He'd probably just received his mark.

I need to neutralize him or expose him. Which do you suggest?

Don't ask me. I long to disembowel him in the middle of the Great Hall and dance in his entrails.

Um…wow. That's a vivid mental picture.

Yes. It's one I use to cheer myself up.

Really?

His actions deeply affected my best friend. Pettigrew is directly responsible for Harry losing almost every single person whom he loved, and who loved him in return.

It won't happen this time. I won't let it.

I know dear. Now, get some rest. I promise to leave you alone and let you sleep.

Several days later, Madame Pomfrey was finally willing to release Hermione. James and Sirius tried not to hover, and failed miserably. On a positive note, the constant presence of either Sirius, Remus or James meant that Sirius' little fangirls from hell couldn't get close enough to her to hurt her. Remus' sense of smell meant that he glared at quite a few of the girls who moved through the hall near them. They seemed shocked that Remus, who was well known for his sweet, gentle, shy nature was capable of such animosity. His need to protect and shelter Hermione astounded him, and then it bothered him. He went to James to talk about it because he was afraid that Sirius might punch first and ask questions later. His friend had a lot of emotions tied up in the tiny girl, emotions that he wasn't willing to admit to himself—let alone anyone else.

"Prongs?" Remus found James alone in his room, working on Quidditch plays.

"Yeah, Moony?" James glanced up, and immediately sat up straight. Remus' eyes darted around the room and he was tugging at his robes. Nervousness radiated off of him in waves. "What is it? What's wrong?"

"I need to talk to someone, and I guess you're the best person for me to talk to," Remus said uncertainly. James frowned.

"I'll do the best I can, mate, but usually Hermione or Lily are better at this kind of stuff," James said, rubbing the back of his neck.

"NO! I mean, no. It's…it's about Hermione," Remus muttered. James' eyebrows shot up his forehead.

"Moony, I think Sirius has already staked his claim there, and I think Hermione really likes him," James said cautiously. Remus shook his head.

"I feel very protective of her," he said, twisting the edge of his robe in his hands. "Is that normal? I don't want to snog her, but I feel happy when she hugs me or kisses my cheek. I'm not…I'm not in love with her…I don't think so anyway, but I think I might love her."

"I know that Hermione considers you to be a dear friend, and I know she loves you," James said seriously. Remus seemed to relax slightly.

"Do you suppose that's it?" Remus asked eagerly. "But why am I so protective?"

"If I had to guess?" James ran an absent hand through his hair. "Is it…I mean…do you consider her part of your pack?"

"Part of my pack?" Remus said softly, frowning in concentration. His eyes narrowed in thought, and then he relaxed completely. "Yeah, I think it is. She's a packmate, but not a mate-mate. She's a lioness, and that sort of turns Moony off…not that you wanted to ever know that. Sorry."

"No, I'm actually thrilled that there is at least one person, aside from me, who doesn't want to shag my sister senseless," James said dryly. Remus laughed.

I'm sure that must be comforting," he agreed. "At least I don't have to feel bad about feeling so protective."

"Be careful around Hermione. She's gets a little cranky about that sort of thing," James cautioned him. Remus smiled wickedly.

"If I blame it on my werewolf, she won't care," he said smugly. James rolled his eyes at him.

"Good. Keep an eye on her. And keep that psychotic fanclub of Sirius' away from my sister," he said firmly. Remus nodded.

"Definitely. I don't like them," he muttered.

HP/HG/HP

"So this is what the inside of a broom closet looks like," Hermione whispered, looking around herself in fascinated interest.

"Did you come for the view?" Sirius asked with a laugh. Hermione chuckled, and the sound did things to Sirius' insides. He pulled her up against him, and she could feel her soft curves being pressed against the hard muscle of his body.

The feel of Sirius against her was delicious, and it made her body ache. She could tell that his body was just as muscled as Lucius' had been, and she wondered what he looked like, under his robes. She bet he looked delicious. His strong hands were sliding into her hair, massaging her scalp, and she closed her eyes and moaned. The feel of his fingers, rubbing and stoking her scalp made her body tingle all over. Every nerve ending seemed alive, every inch of her skin felt hyper-sensitive. Her magic, which was always wrapped around her in a protective swaddling layer began to loosen. It felt almost like it was unfurling. It was a strange sensation, but not unpleasant. When Sirius kissed her, she felt like her lips were on fire; they tingled and burned, and then if felt like fire was licking along all of those nerve endings, across her sensitive skin. Sirius nipped lightly on her lower lip and she opened her mouth, and her magic to him. She could feel his magic pressing against hers. Light, feathery caresses of power seemed to stroke her everywhere at once. She moaned against his lips and an answering groan was pulled from him.

"Sirius," she gasped against his lips, and she felt his lips create a burning trail down her throat. He nipped lightly at her collarbone and she moaned again. The feather caresses of power were teasing her senses, building her toward something. The tingling sensation across her skin intensified. Her body started to tighten everywhere. Sirius nibbled on her earlobe, wringing another gasp from her. She pulled his face to hers and kissed him passionately. Turnabout was fair play, she decided, and she enfolded Sirius in her magic. He shuddered against her.

"Hermione," he whispered desperately, pushing her against the wall and pressing his large, hard body against hers. Her fingers slid into his robes, and slid under his shirt. Hard muscle met her questing finger tips. Her knees turned to butter, and he had to hold her up. Their magic was swirling around them now and everything was narrowing to a pinpoint, and the only thing that existed within that pinpoint was Sirius and Hermione. Nothing else. They were the center of the universe, and the universe was on fire. They shuddered against one another, clinging together. Hermione saw the universe explode into a million, billion stars, and then Sirius was holding her up and panting into her neck.

"Wow," she said softly in awe. Sirius slid down the wall, until he was sitting on the ground, holding her in his lap. He was still panting slightly, and clutching her to him.

"Wow, indeed," he managed after a minute. "Hermione, I've never felt anything like that…ever. What was that?"

"Magic," she said thoughtfully, looking up at him.

"Magic?" He frowned at her.

"Ours. Yours and mine. I think they melded together," she explained softly. He frowned again.

"Is that normal?" He asked slowly. She shook her head.

"I don't know. I'll have to research it." She brushed a lock of his hair off of his forehead.

"Will it happen every time we kiss?" He asked curiously. "Because I don't know if I could survive anything else if that's what happens with a kiss."

"I don't know, I suppose we could experiment and see," Hermione said gravely. Sirius snorted.

"Can you give me a day to recover? That was fairly intense," he said, and then he flushed.

"It was wasn't it? It was like nothing else I've ever experienced." Hermione bit her lip.

"You're worried?" Sirius asked her with concern. She shook her head.

"It's just an unknown variable, and I'm not sure how it will affect everything," she muttered, almost to herself. Sirius chuckled.

"The way you sweet talk me is just sickening," he teased her. She swatted him on the arm.