The Art of Love

Title: The Art of Love - 5
Author: Wickedswanz
Disclaimer: I don’t own anything. Anyway, what is it, I’m supposed to have - owned?
Pairing: Sirius/Hermione
Rating: ADULT - PWP
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“Look at that! Youngest seeker in a century and he can’t even catch a beach ball.” Fred laughed and threw the large brightly coloured ball well over Ron and Harry’s heads to George. The four young men laughed boisterously as they ran, falling in the silky soft, white sand and wrestling for the silly, inflated toy.

Sounds of laughter and panting breaths drifted back with the wind to the pair walking a far enough distance behind to be out of the way, holding hands, fingers interlinked. “Shouldn’t you be up there, showing them how it’s done?” Hermione asked softly as another wave of cool water washed over her feet.

“Maybe later,” Sirius murmured and kissed her forehead, lingeringly. “You know it’s nice from this angle.” Smiling as she wrapped her other hand around his arm and leaned her head against his shoulder.

“What’s nice, from what angle?” she asked confused.

“Being allowed in the ‘Adults Only’ section,” he said with a deep chuckle, “A view from the top as it were.”

Hermione spun in front of him and grinned widely, walking backwards in step with the taller wizard. “You were always allowed in the adults’ section, Padfoot, you just chose to remain with the children.”

She squealed when he grabbed her hand and pulled her back to his side, threading her arm through his so their elbows were linked. “Yeah, but before there was never anyone I wanted to sit with.” He tipped her face up and kissed her lips chastely, simply enjoying the closeness and they walked silently, the waves washing over their bare feet and the sounds of laughter ringing in their ears.

They reached the spot where Bill and Fleur said they would meet them, waving and exchanging hugs with the happy young family. Hermione picked up little Lucas and spun the laughing child, before kissing his nose and dropping him down to his mother. Then let Bill pull her against him as he kissed her hair. “So, when will it be your turn, Granger?” he asked, chuckling when she pulled away wide eyed.

“Well, not yet Sonny-Jim,” she snarked, then screamed when she was suddenly hoisted up by Fred and George and carried by the mischievous two down to the water, kicking and threatening vulgar hexes all the way. One of them tore off her stormy blue sarong and threw it over his shoulder, and both laughed when she continued to scream and threaten.

“Never Granger!”

“You’re in need of some cooling down–”

“–and we are the men--”

“–to provide it!” they shouted the last together and ran into the water, Hermione still in their arms and threw her into an oncoming wave, laughing when she rose out, spluttering and glaring at them both. She advanced and they backed up, suddenly unsure until she grabbed their hands and pulled them both down into the water with her, dunking them both and laughing when they came up spitting sea water.

Sirius fell back on his towel, laughing and holding the sarong Hermione was wearing, thrown over Fred’s shoulder. He folded it and made sure to put it in her bag before laying back to enjoy the sun. He watched Hermione splashing and attacking the twins and laughing, so carefree and happy. He loved seeing her like that, so often she seemed to carry the weight of the world but in these few moments…

A sharp slap on his shoulder brought him back and looking around he saw that the others had joined the twins in the water leaving him and Harry alone. “Have you told her yet, then?”

Sirius groaned loudly and shut his eyes tight, “Told who, what?” he muttered, knowing full well what his infuriatingly smug godson was talking about.

Harry lay beside him and chuckled softly, “If you don’t tell her, she’ll never know.”

Sirius flung an arm over his eyes. “Harry,” he whined, “Enough with the cryptic, and anyway shouldn’t you be more ‘disturbed’ by the whole thing.”

Harry laughed and turned on his side towards Sirius. “Alright, you want me to get all girly-talky I will –” he said, laughing against when Sirius moaned louder. “You were locked away in Azkaban for 12 years then trapped in that house for another one. You were never there, but the mere fact that you were alive and cared about me was enough. It kept me going; I had a family at last.”

Sirius turned to him; his eyes clouded and took his godson’s hand, squeezing it, speechless.

“Hermione means a lot to me Sirius, she was the only light in my life when things got so dark I didn’t think I could crawl back out. Nothing that makes the two most important people in my life happy will ever disturb me,” Harry spoke solemnly, looking up into the blue sky.

“Look mate, I don’t know what you think is happening between me and Mione, but it’s not. I care a great deal about her, you know that and I would never hurt her, but we’re not together, I’m not her man.” Sirius took a shuddering breath and was surprised but how that final statement made him feel, lonely, sad. “She was pretty upset after her break up; all she wants is a fling mate. Something to help her get over Ron, remind her that she’s still desirable.”

Sirius sat up suddenly clenching his fists. “The fact that, that bastard made her feel like anything less then the amazing, desirable woman she is, makes me crazy.” He looked at Harry to see him grinning smugly. “Oh shut up, Potter. Bloody hell, the first time my being a womanizer is called in to help someone and I can’t perform, can you believe it, the only woman who wants me to be ‘Mr. Love’em and Leave’em’ and I don’t want to leave her.”

“So, tell her!” Harry sat up with him and slapped his back. “Sirius, you of all people should know about seizing the day.”

Sirius groaned and covered his face, “No, I can’t Harry, can’t do it to her.” He looked at his godson, sorrow filling his grey eyes. “Imagine how guilty she’ll feel, she doesn’t deserve to feel guilty, she’s done nothing wrong, but she will, that‘s why I love her, because she feels so much, cares so much. I just can‘t. She‘s incredible and I know that she cares about me, but she doesn‘t love me mate.”

~*~*~

Much later, Hermione lay alone on her towel while the others went for ice cream. Harry had promised to bring her something back and she smiled when she remembered Sirius winking and smirking at her as they walked away. Gods she loved him …

Hermione’s eyes suddenly flicked open and her breath caught in her throat. “I love him,” she said aloud, secretly hoping that the voicing would make the whole idea ridiculous and snap her out of it. However, when a wide, almost goofy grin spread she knew that this feeling was going nowhere. “Oh gods, I’m in love with Sirius Black,” she sobered as reality rushed back in. Sirius Black, the womanizer, the playboy, a man, who though obviously cared about her, would never love her.

A single tear ran down her cheek and dripped from her chin, only to be followed by another. He was such a good man, and so deserving of love and yet he didn’t want it. There was an irony to that but she couldn’t laugh at it.

“Mione?” The sound of Sirius made her look up suddenly into his concerned eyes as he dropped to the sand in front of her. “Mione, what’s wrong?” he wiped a tear from her cheek and pulled her against him.

“Sirius, what are you doing here?” she asked, quickly wiping away her tears, hoping desperately that he wouldn’t work it out.

“Well, I thought of you sitting here all alone,” he murmured kissing her face, following the trail of her tears. “Helpless and scantily dressed …” taking her now smiling lips in a lingering kiss. “Now tell me what’s wrong, Brown-Eyes.”

Hermione looked deep into his stormy eyes, he’d had so much turmoil, so much hardship and sadness, and he carried more then his fair share of guilt. He was such a good man – good, honourable, loyal. He didn’t deserve this. The last thing he needed was more guilt, especially not for breaking her heart, and the young witch knew that he would feel terribly guilty for that, and he shouldn‘t, he’d done nothing wrong.

She smiled brightly and took his face in her hands. “I’m fine Sirius, just a silly girl thing,” she said and kissed him tenderly, telling him in the only way she would ever be able to, through her actions.

Sirius’ arms wrapped tightly around her waist and he kissed her right back, moaning softly as he held her to him. Slowly he pushed her back to her towel, half covering her smaller body with his larger one, his lips never leaving hers, and that’s how they stayed for the longest time, just holding each other, kissing, speaking wordlessly both saying the same silent words over and over. “I love you.”

The sun shone down on the two, almost laughing at their foolishness but providing the only comfort it was able – hot, glowing warmth over the two golden bodies, embracing as though they would die if they were to stop touching.

Sirius’ large tattooed fingers slid smoothly over her silky flesh. Searing over the curve of her waist and hip, then back up to cup her firm breast, feeling her nipple harden against his palm. Hermione moaned and arched against him, deepening the kiss and gripping his strong, muscular shoulders.

“Sirius …” the witch moaned her breath panting against his swollen mouth, stealing brief, heated kisses. “Your hands feel so good.”

He groaned against her mouth and slid his fingers up her thigh. “It’s all for you sweet thing,” he murmured and let his mouth travel down her face, across her jaw line, and down her throat. “Gods woman, I can’t get enough of you.”

Hermione was in heaven. The weight of the man she loved crushing her perfectly into the hot, snow-white sand. One hand squeezed and massaged her breast, almost painfully but only serving to excite her further. He parted her thighs with his knee and caressed her soft body with his free hand, all the while whispering to her, “You’re beautiful.”

Both forgetting where they were Sirius reach between them and flicked open his pants. “So hard for you Brown-Eyes,” he gasped and ripped aside her bikini bottoms. “Oh god,” he groaned and pushed into her hot, tight sheath slowly, deliberately, making them both gasp breathlessly.

They both looked up when the soft sound of voices could be heard, loud boisterous laughter; only just audible form a few dunes over. “No, not now,” Hermione cried softly her back arching and her body tightening around his thickness, still filling her.

His chuckle drew her attention and the wicked glint in his eyes made her gasp. “Like I could deny you anything,” he purred into her ear.

“Gods, Sirius we can’t.” However, her argument sounded lame even to her ears and her body seemed to catch fire all over again.

Fast and rampant, Sirius fucked her roughly into the sand; growling in her ear and sliding a hand between them so his skilled fingers could circle stroke her swollen clit. “Not long now,” he rasped, “They’re nearly here baby.” He thrust faster, moaning his own pleasure, gritting his teeth trying to hold back until after she reached her completion. “So close, Mione,” he whimpered, “So good.”

“We’ll never make it,” Hermione mewed and moved against him, her nails scratching down his bare arching back as he pumped faster. “So close … ooh Sirius, don’t stop.” He whined in her ear, so feral and desperate, his body shuddering with his need for release. “Come for me, Sirius,” she whispered and heard him whimper and she was closer, “Let me feel you come hard inside me.”

And he did. With a strangled cry, muffled in her hair, he came hard, shuddering and bruising her hips with the intensity as he shot his seed deep inside her, groaning when she bit down on his shoulder to muffle her own cries as she too found her sweet completion.

The voices were closer, almost upon them. Thinking fast Sirius pulled the gasping woman up with him and together they ran into the cold water, gasping at the chill on their heated bodies and swimming out to deeper water. Laughing breathlessly and exchanging kisses and touches all the way.

~*~*~

The Three Broomsticks was quiet for a Sunday afternoon, and the group, minus Bill and his wife and son, found a table in the back corner easily. Hermione brought the first round and came back with an arm full of butter beers and a firewhiskey for Sirius, which he took with a surprised smile, quickly becoming a wink when they sat.

Conversation flowed easily around the group, the twins telling them in their usual entertaining fashion about a new product coming out and Harry and Sirius joked about Moody. The dark looks coming from Ron were not lost on Hermione when Sirius leaned towards her for the fifth time to whisper a joke or a thought and she’d laugh and answer or slap his arm. She merely smiled politely at her surly ex-boyfriend and continued as though he wasn’t glaring daggers.

What was his problem anyway? He had seemed to be please enough to see the back of her when they broke up, what was wrong with her being happy now that it was all over? Hermione shook her head and tried harder to ignore him. Not a hard feat considering the way Sirius’ hand strayed onto her thigh from time to time and the feel of his hot breath when he spoke against his ear.

It was Harry’s round and Hermione took advantage of the moments dip in conversation to pull out her muggle newspaper and flick to the “Shows and Conventions” section. She always liked to keep up with what was happening in the muggle world, artistic and literary especially. “Oh Ron, tell your dad that the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie is out, I have a week left of my holiday so any time he wants is fine by me.”

“Pirates of what?” Ron snapped, glaring at the newspaper.

Hermione smiled, amused by his childishness. What had she ever seen in him? “Trust me he’ll know and Ginny too. What with Johnny ‘He’s so big’ Depp playing Jack ‘Oh dear god, yes’ Sparrow.”

“What?” Sirius said, covering his mouth to hold in his drink as he laughed.

Harry was chuckling when he put down their drinks, “It’s a muggle movie. Ginny raves about it. It stars the disturbingly sexy lead Johnny Depp.”

Ron rolled his eyes, but Fred and George snickered, “Disturbingly sexy eh Potter?”

Hermione threw her scrunched napkin at them, smirking, “Knock it off you two, there’s nothing wrong with a guy exploring his sexuality.”

“Yeah … hey!” Harry started out happy with her backing then shocked by her reasons and slapped her arm and her head fell to Sirius’ shoulder when she laughed.

While the others teased and chortled Hermione turned to the section on art shows and suddenly gasped, “Oh my god! Van Gogh!”

It was the twins turn to look confused, “What – what?”

Hermione sighed, “Never mind, you wouldn’t know him. He was an muggle artist and there’s a exhibition tomorrow in London.”

Sirius leaned over her shoulder, “Can I come with you?”

“What?” Hermione looked at him, shocked.

“Well you’re going to go aren’t you? I mean if you want to go alone, or with someone else …”

“No! No, I’d like you to come with me; I just didn’t think that you’d …” but her words faulted at the warm open smile on his handsome face. “I’d like it very much if you did, Sirius.” Still grinning, Hermione stood and excused herself to go to the ladies’ room, and felt cheek s flush when she felt Sirius gaze at her back.

The twins headed off home since they had an early start in the morning and Harry went to buy the next round for Sirius, Ron, Hermione, and himself. Once out of sight, Ron leaned towards Sirius, his alcoholic breath making the older wizard cringe. “Wouldn’t mind a crack, hey?” he slurred snickering and slapping the table. “Can’t say I blame ya, that is one tight arse, yeah? And you’re going about it right too, not surprising.”

Sirius pushed him away, “I think you’ve had enough, pal.”

“I’m fine, but she ain’t worth ya time,” Ron made an offensive sign and snickered again. “Complete dud, I can hear her nagging already, “Don’t mess the bed Ron, cut your nails, are you sure that’s how it goes?” he imitated in a high-pitched whine and doubled over with laughter, completely oblivious to the fact that Sirius wasn’t laughing.

At a speed so fast, that Ron barely had time to gasp; Sirius jumped from his seat, grabbed the younger, redheaded boy by the throat and shoved him violently against the wall. “You filthy slug, what in Merlin’s balls makes you think that you even have the right to breath same air as Hermione?” Sirius seethed, baring his teeth to the trembling boy, “I should kill you now for what you’ve done. That woman in there is incredible – gorgeous and sexy as all hell. She has an amazing mind and unlike most she uses it, and just to set the record straight, I’ve already had a ‘crack’ and it was the sweetest arse I’ve ever had.”

“You - you’ve been with her …” Ron managed to rasp out, his eyes flashing with anger. “Bollocks!” he hissed, “That bitch is as frigid and boring as they come.” Ron knew that he’d gone too far long before he started speaking again, but for some reason the words kept coming.

Sirius tossed him over their table. “Get out,” he spoke, his voice dangerously low.

“You can’t tell me what to do, Black,” Ron snapped as he climbed to his feet, pride bruised and adrenalin racing. “Fuck mate, she’s yours, yeah? Been there, done that, glad to be gone.”

With a growl, Sirius pulled back his fist and struck the younger man squarely in the face, sending him sprawling over the table again. The animagus circled the table and closed in, picked Ron up by his shirt collar and threw him across the room with a grunt, smashing a glass cabinet, ignoring the sounds of Harry yelling and Rosemerta screaming, as he advanced again.

“You bastard,” Sirius yelled and lifted him again pinning him against the wall again. “You ever say anything about her again, good, bad, or even a rumour I’m going to rain down upon you a shower of pain you have never known. I am Sirius Black, boy and if you’d read the books like my Brown-Eyes has you’d know that it’s a name to be feared.”

“Sirius?” the voice made him stop and swear under his breath. A worried feminine voice, Hermione’s voice, made him turn, as it asked, “Sirius, what’s going on?”

He looked guiltily at her almost unconscious ex-boyfriend and had a hard time holding in the snicker, weak arse, he thought before remembering the problem. “Harry, take him home,” he said gruffly to his godson, who looked shocked but not angry. The bespectacled man gripped his shoulder briefly nodding and then went to help Ron.

Sirius took a deep breath before turning to Hermione, who still stood speechless, caught between anger and confusion. “Sirius what is this?”

“Mione, gods I’m sorry.” Sirius stepped towards her his eyes pleading. “I just – I couldn’t let him talk about you that way … it made me crazy …”

Hermione looked around the room, at the shocked patrons, the broken glass cabinet and table, and finally back at him. “You could have killed him,” she said simply. “You beat up Ron Weasley, destroyed a perfectly nice pub, and risked returning to Azkaban,” she said, laying out the facts as though trying to work them out logically. “You did that for me?” her eyes raised to his, shimmering and Sirius felt his heart break, having never intended to hurt her.

“Yes,” he replied and let his head drop forward his shame and sadness overwhelming, but before he could beg her for forgiveness she ran at him, threw her arms around his neck and kissed him, hard, prying his lips apart to sweep her tongue within, sighing when his hands gripped her shoulders and held her against his larger form.

She peppered kisses over his face, feeling the stubble on his chin under her lips and liked it. “Thank you,” she whispered and sighed when he captured her lips again. “But you know I don’t like that kind of violence,” she said as sternly as she could while breathless from his heated kisses.

“I know Brown-Eyes,” he murmured against her lips, “And I’m sorry, I really am.”

Hermione smiled and threaded her fingers into his hair. “You’re forgiven.”

Both were oblivious to the patrons watching with unshielded interest. To them it appeared as though Prince Charming had just saved his princess. Nobody spoke as the younger woman took his injured fist and healed it with her wand before bringing it to her lips for a tender, lingering kiss. And nobody spoke up when the older wizard brought her hand to his lips for an equally lingering kiss, his other hand caressing her cheek.

“I think I’ve had too much to drink to apparate.” He said quietly.

“I’ll look after you.” She whispered against his lips and brought his arms around her waist and smiled when his head dropped to her shoulder. Hermione pulled her wand again, closed her eyes and apparated them home.