All the way IIII: Change

"How was your first day?" Hermione asked at dinner that night.

"Good." Gary nodded, grinning, "It's all good. Apart from the first years; they're a bloody pain."

"Aw, come on," She smiled, stabbing at a bit of pasta, "They aren't that bad. They just need you to be nice and understanding with them."

He didn't answer and Hermione lost herself in chasing that damn bit of pasta that wouldn't get on her fork. She pushed it around, trying to gather it up. A knife came down, out of no where, into the path of the fleeing piece of food and Hermiones fork slipped underneath it, scooping it up.

Gary took his knife away, as Hermione looked up, "Thanks. I never thought about doing that."

He smiled at her, "You're welcome."

She shifted in her seat and looked away. Hermione knew Gary hadn't done anything wrong, but she also knew that her husband would see it that way.

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"You ready to go?" Sirius asked as the sky turned dark.

Eileen heaved a deep sigh, "I suppose so. Oh, Merlin, look at the rain! We're gonna get soaked! My hair! Have you ever seen my hair when it's wet? I look like a poodle!"

Sirius laughed, "I'm sure it's not that bad."

"Why did I ever want to come out in this weather?" She moaned, flicking a strand of black hair away from her face.

"Don't worry about it." He told her, "Look, watch this."

Eileen watched as Sirius stuck his hand out into the rain and caught three drops of water in his palm. He made fist around the liquid and brought it to his mouth, blowing gently. Then, taking her hand, his eyes on hers, he uncurled his fingers and let three perfect diamonds fall into her palm in a shower of gems.

Eileen stared at them, whispering, “How did you do that?"

Sirius' thumb was resting on the pulse in her wrist. She knew he could feel it racing, as it always did when a man touched her. It didn't matter to her body that it was only Sirius; her poor, tired body couldn't differentiate between a man she could trust and men in general.

Sirius grinned, "Fred and George found out how to create ice cold breath. Need I say more?"

Eileen smiled, a strange feeling coming over her, making her blush slightly and turn to look somewhere other than at Sirius.

After a few minutes, they got up and started home. Lots of people were out drinking and walking around the streets. The road that Sirius' house was on was long and his house was right at the end of it. Three women were standing by an alley, smoking and propping themselves against a brick wall.

Eileen was fine, until seven drunken guys came out of a side road, singing loudly and whistling at the women by the alley. They were all wearing stupid costumes and Eileen guessed they were on a stag night or something.

She willed them to turn and go back the way that they had come, but they didn't. Instead, they started up the street, towards her, pointing and whispering loudly.

She froze and grabbed Sirius' arm, moving as close to him as she could, "Sirius!"

"Sshh," He breathed, putting his arm around her and guiding her closer to his taller frame.

She was never usually this bad. It was only when men were drunk and, most of the time, unpredictable that she was this scared.

And Eileen felt so stupid.

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Sirius could feel her shaking beside him as he pulled her across the road and further away from the rowdy men.

He didn't know what to do or how to help. And she was in no fit state to tell him anything. She was leaning against him, his arm around her shoulders, her hands fisted in his coat.

Sirius got her home as quick as he could. The road was long, but because there was so many muggles about they couldn't apperate.

His front door automatically unlocked as he stepped onto the property and her ushered Eileen inside. The lights in the hall flickered on with a wave of his hand and he helped her out of her wet coat. The magical coat stand hopped forwards and took both of their coats from him.

Eileen was holding the wall and breathing deeply, trying to calm herself. Sirius slipped his arm around her and guided her into the living room. He placed her on the sofa and sat next to her.

"Eileen?" he said quietly, "Eileen, what can I do? Speak to me!"

She took a deep, shuddering breath and looked up at him. "I'll be fine," She whispered, "Just give me a minute. I usually get over this pretty quickly."

"Usually?" He echoed, "This has happened before?"

"Sam took me out," She said quietly, "About seven years ago, I think. It was his mate’s birthday and some of his other friends had been drinking at a party in one of the bars nearby. We were on our way back to the flat, when they saw us and I said I had a head ache and went home..." She took another deep breath, obviously remembering, "But Sam brought them back to the flat and I’m pretty sure I have a panic attack, I can't really remember. I just hid in the bedroom, but they stayed all night and by the time they left in the morning... well, I was acting one hundred times worse than I was tonight."

Sirius wrapped his arms around her. She was still for a second, stuck in her frightening memory, before she cuddled into him.

"It's alright now," he told her, rocking them gently, "You don't have to see any one you don't want to see. I won't make you; you know that. Its ok, Eileen. It's ok."

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Hermione frowned. She had just been about to get into bed, but some one was knocking at the door.

She opened it cautiously, "Hello?"

"Hermione?"

"Gary?"

"Hermione, will you come and help me?" He asked, "I was wandering around, you know, finding my way without running into students and when I went to go back to my rooms, the picture won't let me in! Can you help?"

Hermione sighed, nodded and pulled her dressing gown tighter around her as she stepped out into the corridor. Silently, they went to his rooms, a few floors up.

Hermione knew for a fact that Severus wouldn't like this. But she was a big girl and she could take care of herself.

They got to the portrait that was the door to Gary's rooms, and Hermione could immediately see why he was having problems. Sir Codagon, the deranged knight, was dancing about with his sword, seemingly trying to fight off a small black dog that had wandered into his painting.

"Sir Codagon?" She said softly. He looked up at her, leaning on his sword, which buckled from under him and sent him crashing to the ground, "Would you please let Professor Swan into his rooms?"

The knight regarded her from the ground of his painting, "That man, dear lady, is no Professor! No, I say! He is gallivanting around with young women!"

"Sir Codagon, it's not any ones business who Professor Swan sees, so please be kind enough to let him in." Hermione reasoned.

The knight mumbled something, but the painting opened inwards to reveal a hall into the male Professors rooms.

A hand came down on her shoulder, "Thanks for that. If there's anything you need doing... just ask. Come on." Gary turned and started back down the corridor.

Hermione trailed slowly behind, puzzled, "Where are you going?"

"I can't just leave you out here in the middle of the night," He answered, "You never know what dark things might want to get you from the shadows."

Hermione laughed, "The only person like that around this place is my husband."

"Hmmm..." Gary paused for a moment, before carrying on innocently, "I was wondering just who, exactly, your husband is."

Hermione frowned, "You don't know who I’m married to?"

"I only came out of a coma five years ago," He reminded her.

She looked up at him, "Severus Snape. He's my husband."

Gary shook his head, "Never heard of him."

Hermione laughed and shook her head, "You're in for a shock when he gets back. It's hazardous to your health to even be in the same country as me."

"I don't believe that!" he chuckled.

"I warned you," She said slowly, "Don't come crying to me when you've been poisoned."

There was a pause, then, "So you're a happily married woman?"

"Yes." She said rather sharply.

"That's a shame," He sighed, as they got to her door, "Because I like you. A lot."

Hermione went inside and looked out at him, "I'm sorry, but I’m married and I love my husband. You should probably stay away from me. For your own safety."

"Are you scared of your husband?" He asked, frowning.

Hermione actually laughed, "Hell no! But you should be scared... Good night, Gary."

He gave her a boyish grinned that made her think he didn't take her warnings seriously, "Night, Hermione... And by the way, there was no young woman tonight. That knight is mad!"