An Unwanted Marriage, But An Unexpected Love

An Unwanted Marriage, But An Unexpected Love

Three days later Sirius told Hermione he had someone he would like her to meet. It was during breakfast, that Sirius changed into Padfoot and led Hermione and the others outside.

Hermione stopped short when she saw the most beautiful stallion she had ever seen, standing in the centre of the yard. Hermione smiled brightly in delight.

She slowly walked up to the stallion, not realising this was the very same stallion Sirius and Remus had talked of three days ago, Midnight. This meant if she had been aware, she would not have been so quick to make any kind of physical contact with the stallion in front of her.

Hermione gently patted the stallion’s dark brown almost black silky mane. She marvelled at how beautifully soft its hair was. She knew stallions were wild and unpredictable, but above all they were loyal to the end once you had earned their full and complete trust.

She giggled when the stallion nudged her cheek and nuzzled her gently and playfully. Hermione exclaimed in delight “Oh, it’s beautiful, and friendly to, which that in itself is kind of unusual.”

Ron grinned, having suddenly caught onto what was happening, or more like who that stallion truly was. That was not a real stallion, it was an animagus. He knew no real stallion would have stayed still, nor playfully nudged Hermione like that without hurting her. The real thing was far too wild to react in such a manner, and with such gentleness.

Plus he was sure a real stallion wouldn’t have eyes of such a warm shade brown, and said eyes would have not been full of mirth. Ron instantly knew who the wizard whose essence was inside of that form was. Had realised the moment Sirius had arrived with the stallion in question slowly walking behind of him.

Ron rubbed his hands together, a crafty smile lighting up his handsome features. He snuck up behind Hermione when she wasn’t looking. He winked at the stallion, who he could have sworn winked at him in return.

Ron quickly lifted up Hermione, and laughed when she squealed indignantly “Ronald Weasley, why I never, put me down right this instant? This is unreasonable.” Ron replied off handily “Oh alright then, if you insist.” He then deposited her upon the stallions back.

Hermione quickly balanced herself and carefully wrapped her arms around its neck fearfully, in case she fell off. She let out an indignant squeal and reprimanded her mischievous red haired friend.

“You have no idea how he will react to having someone placed on his back without warning. It is not fare to just go assuming it won’t throw me off in retaliation, at least not without gaining its trust first. I think I know more about horses then you do, Ronald, thank you very much.”

She still had no idea that this was not a real stallion but in fact an animagus. Meaning he would not throw her off of him deliberately. In fact he found her ranting to be highly amusing. She was a fiery one indeed.

Before she could get down or continue reprimanding Ron, the Stallion began to move in a slow leisurely trot. Hermione tightened her grip slightly as they moved down the yard, and across the large field that the Weasley’s used as a Quidditch pitch.

She was not used to riding a stallion. Back in the muggle world she was more accustomed to riding on a mare, one in particular. So this was new for her. She just hopped the stunning creature would not react badly to being mounted without warning.

As the stallion continued to move along smoothly, Hermione laughed in delight as Midnight sped up slightly. She was relieved to discover the stallion did not have any immediate plans to dislodge her from her resting place upon its back.

She marvelled at how wonderful it felt to feel the summer breeze in her hair and across her face. The joy of riding on such a powerful creature, and the creature in question actually let her ride him. She felt privileged to being riding such a beautiful and stunning creature.

After ten minutes of trotting around the field, Midnight turned around and made his way back towards the Burrow at a gallop, where the others were still watching.

He slowed down when they reached the burrow. Hermione was red in the face, but there was a look of pure delight upon her beautiful face. She panted “Oh wow, Sirius, where did you steal this wonderful beast from? I wouldn’t mind owning a horse like this.”

Padfoot transformed into Sirius, he smirked, but before he could reply, Hermione let out a startled yelp as the stallion’s body began to shift. The shifting instantly alerted her to the fact she had not been riding an actual real stallion. She should have realised this, as the real thing wouldn’t have been so accommodating to what Ron had done.

A few moments later the stallion was replaced with a gorgeous messy brown haired, brown eyed man, of around six feet one inches. Hermione squealed horrified.

She clutched his neck and her legs wrapped around his back, as she blushed brightly. She was wrapped around a man she did not know, and had only seen once before, but not spoken to.

She shivered in delight, as said man spoke in a delicious Scottish accent. “He stole said creature from the lovely warmth of his bed actually.” He was glaring at Sirius as he set Hermione down on her feet.

He then crossed his arms over his chest and eyed Sirius from between narrowed heart melting brown eyes. Sirius rolled his eyes and smirked “Oh honestly. I got you out of your bed to come and meet the stunning Hermione here” he gestured to a very flushed Hermione, who was looking down at her feet.

Sirius added with a sly wink “I wouldn’t be complaining if I was you. You got to have a beautiful young woman ride you, how often does that happen for you Barty?”

Hermione spluttered and glared fiercely at Sirius, who was sniggering. She asked between clenched teeth “Barty, as in Barty Crouch Junior? You mean to tell me you allowed me to ride an animagus without telling me?”

She growled “Oh my god, how could I have been so stupid. I should have known something was not right. Not right when Ron was able to approach him without him becoming skittish.”

She turned to Barty as she finished “But most of all, the fact he allowed me to ride on his back without gaining his trust first, that should have well and truly set off alarm bells for me. I know, as I’ve been around horses since I was five years old.”

Sirius opened his mouth to speak, but was cut of with a hearty glare from both Hermione and Barty. Barty ground out between clenched teeth. “And don’t even start making sexual and obnoxious comments Padfoot. She rode on Midnight, and not me. You have a filthy one tracked mind.”

Remus patted Barty on the back, as he told him laughingly “Oh come on, honestly Midnight, he did this in school. You should be used to his filthy warped sense of humour by now.”

Barty sighed “Yeah Moony, but she can’t be no more then sixteen, seventeen at the most. She shouldn’t have to hear such crap” he gestured to Hermione. Hermione spoke up “I’m seventeen actually; I’ll be eighteen at the end of the month, which is where you come in, if you agree.”

Barty raised an eye brow questioningly “What do you mean where I come in. And if I agree to what exactly?” he asked curiously. Molly spoke up realising how awkward this was going to be. “Have you eaten yet?”

Barty turned to Mrs. Weasley “Ah, no actually I never got the chance Mrs. Weasley. This mangy mutt dragged me out of bed and threw my clothes at me, before I could even shave, never mind eat” he pointed at Sirius with a glare.

He added glowering at the other man “He woke me up, bouncing up and down in his animagus form. And he wouldn’t stop making a god awful howling sound until I gave in, and got out of bed, just so he would cease that infernal howling.”

He growled “Blasted flea bitten, mangy mutt, I’ve been up all night, finishing off brewing orders for some of my regular customers. I’m a potions Master for those of you who weren’t aware of this.”

He concluded yawning “I had been in bed less then three hours, before you made your annoying presence known.” He sent Sirius another less then loving glance. Barty was surely feeling less then charitable right then.

Mrs. Weasley sighed and shook her head in disapproval at Sirius, who gave off an innocent expression, as if to say ‘What? Who me? What did I do?’ Remus could not help but chuckle.

Mrs. Weasley turned her gaze back to Barty and said “Nonsense, call me Molly. If what I suspect is going to happen does actually happen, then you’ll be seeing a lot more of me.”

She turned to the others “Alright everyone, breakfast will be ready in fifteen minutes. So find something to entertain yourselves with in the mean time.”

She turned back to Sirius before heading back inside the Burrow. “Oh and Sirius, please for Merlin’s sake, do try not to get up to anything underhanded in the next fifteen minutes. Or else I’ll leave you to starve.”

She added over her shoulder “Oh, and Hermione dear, perhaps you should go and get that letter, and then show it to Barty before breakfast.” Hermione nodded as Mrs. Weasley went in doors to finish making breakfast.