From the Past

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“I like you,” he said with a grin, and he was as surprised as she to realise that it wasn’t a ‘line’.

She smiled up at him, shaking her head as though she wasn’t quite sure what to make of him, but her smile was warm as she gently pushed him back and, not for the first time, he was struck by just how pretty she was. Her brown eyes looked up at him and he felt as though she were looking into his soul and her small hands on his shoulders felt so soft.

For the first time he was confused. Usually when he met a girl he liked, the task was simple, get her attention, seduce her and shag her within an inch of her sweet life, making sure to make her scream his name, but that was pure ego. But he couldn’t do that with her, it felt wrong somehow. She was just so different to the other girls he’d met, smart and caring, and although he was in no doubt that she was attracted to him, she didn’t fall at his feet like so many other women.

“I like you too,” her words were like sweet honey to his ears and he couldn’t remember being more shocked then when she rose higher and kissed him. It was brief but it was possibly the most exciting kiss of his life.

Sirius sat up straight in his large four-poster bed, gasping for breath, his head throbbing as though he had spent the previous night drinking bottle after bottle of firewhiskey and whacking his scull against a large pole. But as fast as the pounding headache came it was gone, leaving a strange warmth in it’s wake.

“That was some dream,” he grumbled groggily as he flicked back the blankets and climbed out of bed.

He’d dreamt about Hermione before, with a bitter laugh he glared into his mirror, The dreams had been frequent, always about the young witch, and ever since he’d come to the future. Her smell, the way she felt under his hands, the way she tasted… But that was all in the past, twenty years in fact and he had been a very different man.

“Damn,” he swore as he growled at his reflection, when had he gotten so bloody old. His hair was greying, and the crows feet around his eyes just seemed to get deeper. She wouldn’t even look twice at him now, true she liked and cared about him but…

“Forget it, old man,” he said sternly to his reflection. “I just wish I could remember. How is it possible to remember how I felt about her, and how damn sweet she tasted and yet not remember anything else? It’s not bloody fair, that’s for sure.”

He turned away from his reflection in disgust and stomped back into his room, eyes narrowing when he noticed that the door of his wardrobe was slightly ajar. Flinging the door open, he rolled his eyes when he saw his shirts and pants laying on the bottom and his favourite red leather pants, black shirt and leather jacket were missing.

“Why, that thieving little bollocks!” he hissed and then chuckled at the fact that he was abusing himself. Still grumbling he pulled out a pair of black slacks and a crisp white shirt.

Something niggled at the back of his mind. That dream had been different. Usually they involved him, him now and usually whispering in her ear, how much he loved her while he took her hard and fast from behind. He smirked again and muttered a, “down boy” to when his cock twitched at the thought.

But in the dream last night, he had been his younger self and he…

He remembered. Vivid and clear his head filled with images, smells and sounds. Hermione’s hand was on his chest, his hand on her silky warm thigh, and her voice purring so damn erotically into his ear. “I’m yet to meet a man who can handle me, but you’re welcome to try…” She of course had gone on to give him the directions to Ron’s room. Devious little vixen.

He remembered that mixture of predatory excitement and the touch of fear at this new woman. He had really liked her, as in, didn’t just want to bed her, although that wouldn’t be ruled out; he wanted to know her better, worse he had wanted her to know him better…

Sirius grinned at the stupidity of his younger self. Afraid of actually liking a woman, afraid of that connection that James was always raving about. Now he longed for it, and in his mid forties he had all but lost his chance. The woman he loved was young enough to be his daughter, and from the way she had smiled at, and kissed Black, she was looking for a much younger man.

He shook his head to clear his mind, he was getting distracted again. Why was he remembering all this now? And why only up until last night?

“Because the future isn’t set, it never is,” he said softly to himself, nibbling his bottom lip as his mind worked. “I can’t remember because it hasn’t happened yet.”

He fell to the bed and covered his face with his hands.

His head hurt.

~*~*~

“Oh my god!” Tonks exclaimed, covering her mouth with both hands. “You’re joking.”

“No, I’m really not,” Hermione responded dryly. “But that’s not the worst part, to be honest I was relieved that I had a valid excuse to break up without looking like a heartless bitch,” she blushed at that last part, but found herself laughing all the same with Tonks. “But what bothered me was, Lavender was just laying there while he… did it on her.”

“What?” Tonks asked, still laughing.

“Trust me, Dora I know how childish that sounds, but that’s what it was. He was having sex and she was…” she waved her hand trying to find the right words, “Accepting it. She may as well have been a blow-up doll, and he was really enjoying it.”

Tonks almost fell off her chair she was laughing so hard. “That is so sad.”

“The really frustrating thing is that I don’t mind playing submissive sometimes, but he called me a deviant when I pulled out my handcuffs.”

For a moment Hermione was worried that Tonk’s eyes were going to pop out of her head. But before she could say anything they were joined by Sirius, looking sheepish as he made his way through the kitchen.

“I swear, ladies, I did not hear a word.” he said, deepening his voice as he poured coffee. “And I definitely didn’t hear the word handcuffs.”

The two women exchanged a horrified look before collapsing in a fit of uncontrollable giggles.

Hermione was still laughing when she joined him at the bench and held her cup out for him to fill. “I’m sorry, Sirius,” she said, swallowing hard at their closeness. Damn why did he have to look so good. Twitching her fingers with the effort it took to not brush his all too sexy grey streak from his eyes, she forced a coy smile. “But you know it’s only fair, seeing as the-younger-you was nice enough to share the details of your - dalliance with Rita and her barely out of ’Hogs’ sister.”

“Alright,” he said with a grin and filled her cup, “Now you’re playing dirty and…” but his words trailed off as his gaze fell to her clothing. “What are you wearing?”

She blushed and looked down at the outfit she had forgotten she was wearing.

It was the current popular uniform worn by seventh year girls at Hogwarts and consisted of a simple plaid, mid-thigh length skirt, crisp white blouse and a matching tie, with pointy, half-inch heel shoes and white knee-high socks.

“Well by the looks of it, our naughty school girl is in need of a damn good spanking,” Black drawled from the doorway and sauntered in, making a slow deliberate beeline for the blushing muggleborn and grinning roguishly when she placed a hand on his black clad chest to keep him at least a foot away. “So do I get to play or would you rather daddy--” he flicked his eyes to his older self, “--bend you over his knee.”

She laughed despite herself then schooled her expression into a stern, parental glare. “Black, that’s disgusting.”

His grin widened, “Filthy,”

And with a final stern, but still amused look, Hermione pulled away and moved back to the table. She grinned up at the doorway as Remus, Harry, and Ginny joined them, and rolled her eyes when Black took the seat next to her, his arm over the back of her chair.

“I’m assuming that naughty school girl outfit isn’t for my - our benefit,” Sirius snapped and yanked back his chair before sitting firmly. “So what’s the plan?”

Hermione looked up sharply at his tone but looked away quickly when his eyes flashed on her. Had she done something wrong?

Taking in the angry compression of his mouth and the way he seemed to be glaring at her coffee cup. She looked away and started. “We’re going to need three books by my thinking,” she said through gritted teeth and held up her list. “With these I should be able to work out how you, in all your cleverness, managed to apparate yourself into the future,” he jerked at the irony in her tone and their eyes met and clashed.

“I’m going with you.” Black said from beside her.

“What?” She turned to him, but was interrupted by Sirius from across the table.

“No bloody way!” Sirius growled, turning to glare at her. “This is serious; keep your little make out sessions in your own time.”

Hermione couldn’t believe her ears. Sirius hadn’t spoken so bluntly or crossly to her since she was fifteen and even then it hadn’t been as cutting or blatantly derogatory as this. She jumped to her feet, her chair fell behind her and she glared down at the rather shell-shocked looking Sirius.

She heard Harry speak up in her defence but held up her hand to silence him, smiling at him and the others to show that she was fine, much to their surprise.

There were a lot of things that she wanted to say, but fact that he still saw her as little more then a hormonal teenager cut a lot deeper then she expected. She swallowed hard to force back the tears that threatened and with a final look at the still silent Sirius she dropped a bag into Black’s lap.

“I’m going to need an extra set of hands - don’t say it!” She snapped at Black as he stood, but her lips quirked when he drew an invisible zip across his mouth. “Three rules: One, you will do as I say. Two, my wish is your command and will be granted without question. Three…” his upheld hand stopped her.

“Three, I’m your slave and must obey?” Black said with a smirk.

“Very good, Poochie,” she cooed and swept out of the Kitchen. “We’ll meet the rest of you at the Three Broomsticks this afternoon.”

~*~*~

Hermione and Black apparated into Hogsmeade, and the muggleborn lead the way around the dank alleys to the Hogs Head pub, Black following with an easy lop to his step.

“Are we there yet?” Black whined, earning himself a dark look and replying with a playful wink.

She turned and gave him a quick up and down glance. “You know you look cute in the uniform,” she said, taking in his perfectly creased dark-brown slacks, crisp white shirt and tie.

He grinned roguishly and sauntered closer, weaving an arm around her waist. “It’s nice to see you smile again,” he spoke softly ghosting his lips over her cheek.

“Am I that transparent?”

He chuckled, “Would it help if I said sorry?” He murmured. “I was just frustrated…Stuck with this younger version of me…And you in that very - very - short - skirt.” His last words were emphasised by soft nips around her jaw.

Hermione laughed but didn’t pull away. There was something so natural about being in his arms and something sweet and yet possessive about the way his hands settled on her lower back. “You do know that you are the younger version, I thought you said that you weren’t him. That makes the apology a little obsolete.”

“Well, let’s just say that I’m getting it in early so I get to kiss it better,”

She pulled back and laughed again, hands on her hips as she tried to look at him more sternly but failed miserably. “That is the worst line I have ever heard.”

“Not one of my better ones, but then this isn’t exactly my usual hunting ground.”

She rolled her eyes and started walking. “So that’s all I am?” she asked when he fell into step beside her. “Pray to a hungry dog?”

“Yeah, you say that like it’s a bad thing,” he joked but before she could reply his long fingers slipped around her arm. “Did you feel it too?”

She took a calming breath and tried to ignore the heat radiating from his tall, broad frame and the tingling from where his fingers gripped her. “Feel what?” She asked, feigning ignorance.

But before she could pull away his mouth swooped down and took her lips in a breathtaking kiss that made her knees weak and her mind reel. She would have fallen at his feet if at that moment he didn’t wind his arm around her waist and pull her firmly against him.

When he pulled away they were both breathless, “That,” he rasped, pausing to nip her plump lower lip.

She grinned, panting slightly and nipping him right back. “So you know how to kiss a woman, after everything I’ve heard; mainly from you, it’s no more then I would expect.”

“Let she who is without sin, love,” he said, quoting a muggle phrase. “And not meaning to presume anything or cause offence, but you seem quite apt at this art you call kissing, yourself. Now are you going to answer or do I have to show you again?”

Hermione sighed and pulled away. “What if I did?” she said walking again. “You are in a time not your own, I could find a way to send you back tonight.”

“So?”

“Well it’s not just that, you and I are friends here, the older you I mean and this--” she moved her hands between Black and herself. “--would complicate that to no end.”

“Well, Sirius said he doesn’t remember anything that happened while he was here, just arriving and returning.”

“Your point is?”

Black smiled slowly and pulled her back against him. “Who say’s uncle Siri has to know? I’ll be your dirty little secret,” he purred, his lips tickling her ear and his words causing heat to pool and coil in her lower body.

“I can’t,” she gasped and tried to back away. “What if you remember? Sirius seems angry at me enough as it is, he’ll be livid when he remembers.”

He fell into step beside her and they continued to walk.

They entered the pub and after speaking briefly to the owner Hermione spoke with the little girl in the painting and followed her down the secret tunnel into Hogwarts.

“Wow!” Black hissed as they followed the girl. “I completely missed this one.”

Hermione smiled and took his hand to help him out the other side. “Don’t feel bad, we only discovered it ourselves a few years back.”

“Mistress Granger!” They were met by a rather perky looking house-elf, grinning madly as she jumped up and down.

“Flippy,” Hermione laughed and hugged the small creature gently before pulling a small bag of candy out of her pocket. “My friend and I need a book from the library, but we promise to give it right back,”

Black’s face seemed to have turned a dark red, “Why the hell are you pleading to a pathetic little…” he never finished that sentence as Hermione slapped him sharply across the face. “Bloody hell, woman, what…?”

But Hermione grabbed him by the collar and yanked him down so their faces were close. “You will learn some bloody respect, Black.” she hissed. “They cook your food and clean your toilets, you bloody toffs couldn’t even get through one day without them doing everything for you, and they live to serve and would die to protect you.”

“I - I guess,” he muttered, throwing a dark look at the little elf.

“What’s next, since they’re not really wizards or witches, will you go for the werewolves next? Or the Muggleborns?”

He swallowed hard, his eyes wide. “You’re right,” he said simply and Hermione was shocked to see him actually look guilty.

With a puffed breath she let him go and watched as he straightened his shirt. A little voice from beside her made the witch look down. “Yes, Flippy?” she said with a gentle smile.

“I was just saying, Mistress Granger, that you do not need to make any explanation to Flippy. Flippy trusts you and Flippy knows that you would never take and not return.”

“Thank you,” Hermione said and handed the elf the small bag of sweets. “These are for you, but you must give one to Kreacher and tell him I send my love.”

“Kreacher?” Black spoke up, earning another glare and holding up his hands in surrender.

Flippy’s smile was brilliant, seeming to stretch from pointy ear to point ear.

With a final stern look at Black, Hermione pulled out the Marauders Map, turned sharply when he tried to snatch it, proclaiming that it has been passed down from father to son to best friend, and poking her tongue for good measure.

Seeing that the hall was clear, Hermione opened the large door and they both slipped out hand in hand and walked down the hallway. “Alright, we look like any other 7th years so just act natural. If you see anyone just smile and keep going.”

At that moment two 6th year girls in figure-hugging robes turned down the hall. They both looked at Black with wide eyes, cheeks flushing and smiling shyly.

He intern gifted them both with a wickedly wolfish grin. “Ladies,” he purred and bowed deeply, his eyes never leaving their besotted faces.

Hermione gritted her teeth to hold in the enraged growl and instead grabbed his arm and smiled politely at the girls who were now glaring daggers at her. “Sorry, we’re late,” she said but couldn’t resist the urge to give them both a purely possessive and almost cat-like smile when Sirius wound his arm around her waist as they walked away.

Once out of site she pulled away and hissed at the smirking Marauder. “You know that would be seen as a felony in some countries.”

“Ouch! Just for saying hello?” He said, his eyes glittering with amusement. “Imagine if I’d kissed the blonde one’s hand,” he grinned widely when Hermione barely stifled a growl. “Why, Miss Granger, one might think you jealous.”

“Hardly,” she spat and smartly turned on her heel to lead the way.

They walked silently to the library, smiling politely when anyone passed, four tall, 7th year boys, obviously from Slytherin, stopped to stare as the two passed. The taller platinum-blonde haired one gave her a slow wink and the other three grinned knowingly when her cheeks flushed.

“Don’t you serpents have classes?” Black growled from her side, his fingers biting painfully into her arm when he pulled her closer to his side.

The blonde’s eyes narrowed on Black. “I’ve never seen you before, who are you?”

But before he could retort, Hermione spoke up. “He’s an exchange student…um - Tex Perkins, from Australia.” She rolled her eyes dramatically and gave the blond a flirtatious smile. “Headmaster Snape asked me to show him around.”

Black blanched, “Headmaster…Ouch!” his outburst ended in a yelp when she stomped her heel onto his toe.

She turned to him, her gaze firm. “Yes, Mr Perkins, you remember the Headmaster.” she simpered before turning back to the Blond with an exasperated smile. “We should go,” and she smiled again, nibbling her bottom lip and with a thrill of feminine triumph she flicked out her tongue to dampen her lips when his eyes dropped to stare at them, his own parting slightly. “Will I see you around, Mr Malfoy?”

The boy she had called Malfoy puffed out his chest and she knew she was right. This was Draco’s baby brother, though not so little any more.

“You can depend on that, Miss…?” He had the gumption to look abashed. “Sorry, Ravenclaw, but your name has slipped my mind.”

She grinned, he was good. “You can call me ‘Mione. I had the honour of meeting your brother and father a few years ago, would you be kind enough to extend my regards?”

Malfoy took her hand and with a winning grin at Black, he brought it smoothly to his lips and let them linger as his silver eyes met with hers. “It would be an honour, ‘Mione.” he said slowly, his mouth caressing her name as they had her hand.

Once around another corner and out of sight of the Slytherin boys, Black was quick to pull her to a stop glowering down at her. “What the fuck was that?” he growled.

She felt like the cat who found the cream when she looked up at him, his jealousy so potent she was sure that she could bottle it. “What the ‘Fuck’ was what?”

“You know what.”

“Those boys were prefects, they would have taken us straight to the Headmaster and we’d be back at square one.”

His eyes narrowed on her. “You knew his name,” he accused.

“Long platinum-blonde hair, alabaster skin, silver eyes,” she counted on her fingers, before leaning closer, “Who the hell else would he be, but a Malfoy.”

“Know the family rather well, do you?” he sneered, eyes raking over her short skirt and tightly encased breasts.

With a gasp Hermione stepped back, yanking her arm free and glaring up at him. His jealousy was one thing, but what he was accusing her of, was very different and hurt more then she liked to admit.

“Lucius Malfoy and his ever obedient and obscenely petulant son, stood and watched while Bellatrix Lestrange Cruico’ed me for three hours, because as I’m sure you are aware, Black, a mudblood is far lower then a blood traitor.” With that she turned away, tears pricking her eyes.

Before she could lead the way again, Black pulled her flush against his chest, his arms wrapping around her shoulders and waist in an effort to pull her closer and seeming to want to cocoon her in his warmth. “I’m sorry,” he whispered into her hair kissing hotly down her face till he found her mouth.

The kiss was like nothing she had ever experienced. It was an aggressive assault of his open mouth, almost desperate as he possessed her, moaning when she wound her arms around his waist and kissed him right back.

He pulled away slightly, breathing raggedly as his heated gaze met hers. “The thought of that slimy bastard touching you made me crazy,” he rasped, leaning his forehead against hers and for a long time they simply stood, trying to catch their breaths their eyes glued.

“Oh how very touching.” The smooth baritone voice made them both stiffen and turn to find themselves facing Headmaster Snape. “Why, Miss Granger and if I am not very much mistaken, Mr Black.”

“What are you doing here, Snivellus?” Black spat, looking confused when Hermione hissed at him to stop and let her do the talking.

“Role-playing, Miss Granger, I wasn’t aware that was your style.” His black eyes flashed as they swept over her outfit. “Dear Merlin, Black, you must know that those aging potions never last more then an hour or two…but then I guess that’s all you need.”

“Please, Headmaster, this isn’t what you think.” Hermione pleaded.

“To my office at once,” Snape commanded, leaving no room for argument as he turned with a flourish and lead the way.

As they followed obediently Black leaned closer, his lips brushing against her ear. “Do you think he’ll give us detention?”

She giggled madly and let him pull her closer as they walked.

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So what do you think so far? Who are you rooting for older or younger?