A River of Dreams

Hermione stumbled down the hall in her heels, trying to simultaneously buckle one shoe and put in an earring. She almost never wore anything besides trainers or flat dress shoes, but tonight was Halloween and she’d decided to go all out. Realizing she’d left her necklace in Sirius’ room earlier that day when she’d gone to take a shower in his bathroom, she cursed and made a quick detour. With three men in the house the common bath tended to smell foul and grow mould faster than any other room, leading Hermione to loathe using it for anything more than a quick squat over the toilet. After the first two years she’d begged Sirius to allow her access to his private bathroom in return for keeping it spotless, allowing her to omit any visits to the other room all together.

Hermione rapped sharply on Sirius’ bedroom door before barging in.

“Sirius I forgot my …” she gasped as she took in the sight before her. Sirius was frozen in shock, staring right back at her and she blushed brightly. He was half naked, a white towel tied around his waist and his hands holding another at his head, paused in the middle of drying his shoulder length hair. Hermione unconsciously licked her lips at the sight of his lean, tattooed chest tapering down to a well defined waist that tucked into the top of his towel. Dark hair peppered his chest, teasing his nipples before it tapered into that -what was it called? Ah yes – treasure trail which also disappeared below the damnable towel. She cleared her throat, eyes going back up to reach his now amused gaze, “I forgot my locket” she responded, voice sounding shaky even to her own ears.

Sirius nodded and then turned to look at his cherry wood dresser, and Hermione rolled her eyes at herself, slumping slightly in her stance. How old was she again? Merlin she was such a child sometimes. She straightened as he turned back a moment later, locket in hand.

“Is this is?” he asked, a gruff tone to his voice. His eyes, those piercing blue eyes that always seemed to make her knees weak, were on hers. She nodded mutely, and stood for a moment, expecting him to bring it to her. The amused quirk of his lips made her realize he wasn’t. She gave an exaggerated huff, hoping to cover her nervousness and strode in what she believe was a confident gait over to him to retrieve her necklace.

She reached up, to grasp the locket, her eyes locked on Sirius’. At the last moment she decided to risk it, and brushed her fingers against his as she palmed her missing jewelry. His breath hitched slightly at the contact and she throatily said “Thank you”

Before she could move her hand and leave he grasped her wrist, holding her in place and for the first time seemed to comprehend what she was wearing. He dropped his eyes downwards towards her white, gauzy dress and then back up to her eyes asking in the same, throaty sort of voice “What’s this then love? Birthday come early?”

Her heart beat a rapid tattoo behind her ribs and she tried to control her breathing as she responded “Halloween Sirius. I’m going as Marilyn Monroe” He tipped his head to the side and a small smile curled his lips.

“Ah, and a lovely muggle she was” Hermione raised an eyebrow and he chuckled, a deep sound that shot straight to her stomach and groin, “Come now love, someone as beautiful as her was well know to us in the wizarding world as well as the muggle world. Though I do say” He dropped his voice to a near whisper and leaned closer, lips almost brushing her ear, “You definitely do her much justice”

A moan she couldn’t control slipped out of Hermione’s throat, the closeness of Sirius’ body and the clean smell of his soap and body wreaking havoc on all of her senses. She licked her lips, before reaching out to let her fingertips lay on his chest, reveling in the catch she heard in his breath. Hypnotically she traced them over one tattoo design, and then another before sliding them straight over the flat planes of his muscle and behind his neck, turning her head slightly so her lips were next to his. One small move, one tiny fraction of an inch further….

There was a crash downstairs and the sound of laughing and Sirius and Hermione jumped apart. Hermione laughed weakly as she heard Harry’s voice booming up the stairs calling for her. “I’ve got to go” she said softly, eyes trained on the floor.

“Hermione –“ Sirius started. She put on a smile and shrugged.

“I know Sirius, its ok. I know you didn’t mean anything by…well I know it didn’t mean anything. It won’t change our friendship” she said, finally forcing her to meet his eyes. She took in the flicker of surprise and something she couldn’t define before he nodded tersely.

“Yes, well” there was a tightness in his voice that hadn’t been there just moments before “Have fun” She smiled, her lips as tight as his voice had been and she spared him one last lingering glance.

“You too Sirius. Have some fun tonight if you can” she said lightly, and his eyes softened at her. He gave her a dazzling smile, one that pulled his cheeks and glowed in his eyes. She couldn’t help but return it before she bounded out of the room closing the door behind her. Trotting down the stairs she found herself grabbed by Harry’s strong arms as he hugged her tightly.

“Mione! There you are! I’ve been calling for you!” he said a bit too enthusiastically, his face already a bit red. He’d already started the celebrating it seemed, as had Ginny who giggled beside him. She clucked at him, before being spun around to face the other wizard in the parlor.

Gasping, Hermioned found herself face to face with Lucias Malfoy and she pushed him away sharply. Lucius held up his hands as her wand came out, pointed straight at his throat. “Hermione! Relax, its just me!” Draco’s voice filtered through her consciousness and she paused.

“Draco?” she asked and he nodded, “Merlin you gave me a fright. I thought I was going to have to hex off your balls!”

“Well thank the gods you didn’t! I like them right where they are!” he said, lowering his hands and grabbing her back into a hug. Hermione chuckled, tucking her wand back into her dress and returning the hug. Hearing the stairs creak behind them, she looked up to see Sirius’s eyes trained on her and her companion.

“Are we ready?” asked Ginny. She glanced at her best friend and nodded.

“Where to?” asked Draco.

“Oh, I hear the Leaky Cauldron has a wicked Halloween party!” said Hermione enthusiastically. Harry chuckled at her

“I though you hated the Leaky Cauldron. In fact, I clearly recall you saying it’s a cesspool of the worst kind of degenerates”

Hermione scowled, “Well I changed my mind. I want to go tonight”

Draco laughed, tucking an arm around her waist “And to the Leaky Cauldron we go. Ready Hermione?” She nodded, glancing once more over their shoulders towards the stairs. Sirius stood in the shadows, a wistful look on his face, his eyes still trained on hers. The last thing she saw was his right hand come up in a silent wave before Draco apparated them away to Diagon Alley.