Have Yourself a Merry Little... Fairy Tale?

A/N: Written for LJ hermionesirius Yuletide Carol Fest, to the song "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." I changed the title from the original post.

Hermione Granger looked out the window of her childhood bedroom. It was Christmas Eve night, well morning technically, since it was two a.m. She couldn't sleep a wink. She had come home to visit her parents for Christmas. A tradition she held on to for many years. At the age of twenty-nine, she didn't have many traditions left and hadn't really started any of her own, so she enjoyed coming home for the holidays every year.

This year had been a bit rough for Hermione. Ron had decided to leave her to “find himself” last month. It was a shock, they had planned to get married in March, but Ron apparently didn't want to be married and start a family yet. Hermione should have known he was going to leave her. He kept pushing off the wedding later and later. Why hadn't she paid attention to the signs?

It started to snow. Not very hard, just a light flurry. Hermione decided to do something she hadn't done in years. There was a small pond behind her parent’s house that always froze over in the wintertime. She donned her heavy sweater and lined jeans. She grabbed her knit hat and scarf, which Mrs. Weasley handmade for her for Christmas, her ancient pair of ice skates, and headed outside. As she walked out the door, she grabbed her gloves and IPod that was sitting on the kitchen counter where she left it charging.

When she got to the pond, she waved her wand to test the depth of the frozen lake to make sure it was safe to skate on. Once Hermione was sure that she was in no danger of falling through the ice, she put on her skates and carefully stepped on the ice. It had been a few years since she ice-skated but after a few times around the pond all the lessons she had as a child came back to her.

Hermione wasn't a professional skater or knew any impressive moves, but she has known some basic jumps and spins. Hermione just loved being able to glide around on the ice. Her IPod was playing Christmas songs that she loved. There was always something magical about ice-skating to Christmas songs in a light snow flurry.

The song on her IPod changed to her favorite childhood songs, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” Hermione smiled to herself when the song came on. It was her favorite and it mimicked her life today.

“Have yourself a merry little Christmas.
Let your heart be light.
Next year all our troubles
Will be out of sight.”

She came to her parents to not only spend Christmas with them, but to also forget about Ron Weasley. She did love him, but now that love seemed to be fading quickly. That was her New Year’s resolution, to forget about Ron and find someone who wanted her for who she is.

“Have yourself a merry little Christmas.
Make the Yule-tide gay.
From now on our troubles
Will be miles away.”

Hermione laughed again, well her troubles were miles away, she hadn't heard from Ron since he left, no owls or Floo calls, nothing. She came to the conclusion that he didn't care about her anymore. If he had, he would have ended things years ago, instead of staying together for the image. She really didn't blame him. After the war people assumed that they would be together, get married, and have red headed babies, but neither of them wanted that right away. They stayed together because people expected it. In the end, she was glad that it was over.

“Here we are as in olden days,
Happy golden days of yore.
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Will be near to us once more.”

Hermione always found comfort in her parents’ home. No matter how she was feeling, she knew going home would always lift her spirits. Even something as simple as skating around a pond brought her back to a simpler time in her life. Before magic entered her life, before the war where she lost so many friends, before she became an adult with obligations, responsibilities, and heartbreak. To a time when she was her daddy's little girl and her mother's precious angel.

“Someday soon we all will be together
If the Fates allow.
Until then we'll have to muddle through somehow.
So have yourself a merry little Christmas now.”

A tear came to Hermione's eyes. It was sad, even after ten years, to think about all the families that lost people during the war. She would visit the Weasley’s and their growing family tomorrow; they were still family to her. They still set a place for Fred at the table. If he couldn't be there in person, he would be there in spirit. Every year she puts flowers on Remus, Tonks, and Severus' graves. She knew one day in the far future, she hoped, that she would see them again.

As the song, ended Hermione did a little turn on the ice, slipped, and landed hard on her butt. “Ouch,” she said aloud and started laughing. She looked up at the sky and saw a single star shining through the snow clouds. Hermione smiled and closed her eyes and made a wish. She made a silly childish wish that a handsome prince would come and sweep her off her feet and they could live happily ever after. Hermione laughed at herself, it was the same wish she use to make before real magic entered her life.

She got up off the ice and started to head back to the house when she heard a small whine come from the side of the house. Hermione carefully drew her wand and made her way towards the noise. On the wet ground in the snow was a large, scruffy looking, black dog. Hermione carefully made her way towards the animal. The dog hadn't moved but it was breathing.

“Hey there,” Hermione whispered to the animal.

The dog slowly lifted its head. Hermione carefully got down on the ground to check over the animal.

“How did you get here?” she asked, trying to sound friendly so not to alarm the animal.

The dog whined again.

Hermione thought for a moment. “Can you stand up?” Hermione let out a small cry when the dog obeyed her and got up on all fours. “Well at least you can stand. Now, if I let you in my home will you behave?”

The dog slightly bowed his head. Hermione eyebrows rose up in surprise. “Okay, but if you chew or relieve yourself of the furniture I am throwing you back out in the cold. Hermione and the dog went inside the warm house. Hermione quickly took off her hat, gloves, scarf, and set her IPod back on the counter on charge. She went to the refrigerator and pulled out some leftover meat. She quickly chopped up some of the roast beef and set it on a plate on the ground. The dog quickly ate it up.

“You were hungry weren't you?” She got a small dish filled with water and set it next to the food. The dog greedily drank it all.

Hermione sat down on the floor and petted the animal. The dog rolled over on his back and she rubbed his belly. “Oh I see you are a boy dog.” She searched for a collar but didn't find any. “You appear to be a stray. Don't you have an owner?” The dog rolled back over and got up. Her eyes narrowed a bit. “You look vaguely familiar. Like a distant memory.”

The dog started to sniff Hermione everywhere. Its big wet nose nuzzled her neck giving it a few licks.

“You are very friendly, aren't you?” She scratched his head and looked in his eyes. “Well, I'm not going to kick you out in the cold. You might as well stay with me in my room. Do you need to go outside first before we go to bed?”

The dog looked at the door then back at Hermione and shook his head. Hermione looked shocked. “Okay, you seem to know how to communicate. I should be worried, but I'm too tired to be. Let’s go to bed.”

Hermione entered her bedroom and quickly shut the door and added a Silencing Charm. She didn't want to disturb her parents if the dog started to bark.

Hermione shed her clothes and put on her tank top and boy shorts she always worn to bed. The dog stared at her panting. “No, that's not creepy,” Hermione thought but shrugged it off.

She climbed into bed and patted the comforter. “Up here.” The dog jumped on the bed. “You need a name.”

“How about Dean?” Hermione suggested. The dog wrinkled up his nose. “Okay not Dean, how about Scruffy?” The dog growled a bit. “You don't have to get defensive about it!” Hermione smiled then something clicked in the back of her mind. “I know who you remind me of; you look just like the Animagus form of Sirius Black!”

The dog smiled; at least Hermione thought it was a smile. “Do you want to be named Sirius?” The dog licked her face and neck. “You are not an ordinary dog are you?” Hermione said as she scratched his head and gave his muzzle a kiss. The dog licked her face in return.

Realization dawned on Hermione. “Wait a second.” She jumped off the bed in a panic and grabbed her wand. “I'm right; you are not an ordinary dog. Who are you?”

The dog let out a sad whine and stared up at Hermione with his big eyes. “Don't give me that look. You respond too well for a dog. You are human.”

The dog let out a huff and started to transform. Hermione screamed at the large and very naked man lying on her bed.

Hermione's wand was ready to fire when her eyes widened in shock and she dropped her wand. “Sirius?”

“Hello, love,” he said nonchalantly.

Hermione stood frozen where she was, her mouth moved but only one word came out. “How?”

He looked her in the eye. “You wished for me.”

Hermione even more confused. “What, when?”

“When you fell on the ice. By the way you skate beautifully,” he said with a bright smile.

“You were watching me?” Hermione asked in shock.

“In a way, yes.”

Hermione was still in shock. “First of all, I wished for a handsome prince. You're not a prince last time I checked, and secondly you’re dead!”

“You're right I'm not a prince, but I am handsome.”

Hermione rolled her eyes despite of the bizarre event that was happening.

“And secondly I wasn't dead, I was in the in-between.”

Hermione knew such place existed, from talking to Harry after the war but only Harry had ever came back for it and he was only there for a short time. “The in-between, for twelve years?”

“Yes.”

Hermione still hadn't moved from where she was. All her brain could do was to ask questions. “How did you manage to stay there?”

“I don't know it was something I could never figure out. Time moves differently there.”

“That explains why you don't look as old as you should. Why did you appear in your Animagus form and not human?”

“You had to kiss me to complete the wish before I could turn into a human.”

Hermione held her head in her hands. “I know what happened. I hit my head on the ice and now I'm in a warped fairy tale. I'm probably slowly bleeding to death on the frozen pond.” Sirius got off the bed. Hermione got a pretty good eye full, her jaw dropped. “At least I will die happy.”

Sirius took a hold of her hands. “Hermione, look at me... my eyes, love,” Sirius said with a smirk when Hermione's head jerked up fast. “You are not dying, I am real. I can't explain what happened, but I do know that we belong together. If we didn't I never would have been able to come back.”

Hermione shook her head. “No you're not real. You can't be there is no logical explanation...”

Sirius silenced her ramblings with a slow sensual kiss. He pulled her in closer so their bodies were pressed together. Hermione felt something very real growing against her shorts. She wound her arms around his neck. Sirius lifted Hermione and her legs wrapped around his waist. Never breaking the kiss, he turned around and gently lied down on the bed. Hermione always had a small crush on the older wizard but he died less than two years after her meeting him, but there were still nights she would dream about him and her together, just like this.

“That felt real to me, how about you?” he asked when his hand snaked under her top.

“Sirius...” Hermione started to protest.

“Shh, it's okay,” he said as he lightly kissed her forehead.

“I'm not dreaming?” Hermione asked in a small voice.

He smiled and shook his head. “Not this time. I am very real.”

“How is this possible?”

Sirius smiled at her, she still wanted to know all the answers of the world. “We will worry about that tomorrow, but tonight it’s just about us.”

“You will still be here in the morning?” Hermione asked, afraid that he would have to go back by sunrise.

He ran his fingers through her hair. “I'm not going anywhere for a long time.”

Hermione smiled, she didn't understand what was happening, but she decided not question the fates for now and live out her dreams. “Make love to me.”

Sirius slowly took off her top and kissed her body, savoring every inch of her skin. He massaged her breasts, lightly biting the nipples.

Hermione's nails scraped across Sirius' scalp and back. She was letting out little sounds of pleasure. She has grateful she cast that Silencing Charm.

“You taste wonderful, love,” Sirius said as he slid her shorts and knickers off her. His tongue licked her clit.

Hermione hissed with pleasure as her hands pulled roughly at his hair. “Sirius,” she moaned.

Sirius plunged a finger into her, preparing her. She didn't need much; she was very wet for him. Sirius hovered over her. He gently kissed her lips before plunging into her.

Hermione arched up in pleasure, her eyes half lidded, she opened her mouth to speak but no words would form. This was a dream come true, literally.

Sirius slowly moved, savoring every noise that Hermione made. It had been far too long since he enjoyed the female body. He nipped and licked at her neck. Hermione scratched his back with her long nails and bit at his shoulder.

Sirius shuddered at her responsiveness. “Hermione.” He moved faster, he would have time to savor her later, but now there was an urgency within him.

She felt the fire building up inside of her. He sped up his pace. “Sirius.”

Both were flying on their pleasure and the sheer beauty of the moment. Hermione felt like she was floating when they climaxed together.

“Happy Christmas, love,” Sirius said as he held her close.

Hermione laughed, “Happy Christmas, Sirius.” Hermione held on to Sirius as she drifted off to sleep.

*~*~*

When the morning came, Hermione was relieved to find Sirius still there. It had not been a dream. Although, she had some explaining to do to her parents. She left out the part of him being naked all night long. Her father wanted to get his gun and chase Sirius out of the house, but he saw how happy his daughter was and decided that he would leave it alone. But he did warn Sirius that if he hurt his Hermione he would wish he were dead. Hermione scolded her father, but secretly smiled at the warning.

Hermione had no idea how she would explain Sirius when they went to the Burrow. When she walked in the door with Sirius beside her there was a stunned silence for a good two minutes. Nobody knew what to say. Harry sat in shock for almost a half hour before he said a word. He asked how it happened, but for the first time in her life, Hermione had no answer. It was going to be a while before the shock wears off. By the end of the night, Hermione was physically and mentally exhausted. She still was trying to figure out how it was possible that Sirius was back with them.

Sirius and Hermione Apparated to her flat. Immediately Hermione went to her stack of books trying to figure out how this was possible.

After an hour of no luck finding anything, Sirius cradled Hermione in his lap. “Love, just let it be.”

“I can't, it's not in my nature.” Hermione smiled.

Sirius laughed, “For once just enjoy and don't ask questions.”

“I can't. You shouldn't be here.” She started to cry. “I just don't want to wake up and find you are gone again.”

“That's not going to happen, I told you that. Just think of it as Christmas magic.”

“There is no such thing,” she said, wiping away her tears.

Sirius lifted an eyebrow. “Are you sure? After everything you have seen in your life you are ready to dismiss that theory?”

Hermione shook her head. “People wish on stars all the time, their wishes don't come true.”

Sirius shrugged. “How do you know?”

“I've wished that same wish lots of times when I was a kid, why did it work last night?”

“Maybe you finally wished on the right star.”

Hermione gasped at him. “You might be right. Maybe there was some kind of celestial phenomenon that happened last night.” Hermione rushed to her laptop and researched last night’s star chart.

Sirius followed her. “That is not what I meant.”

Hermione started typing fast. “I know, but I wonder if there was something magical about that star. It was so cloudy that night and snowing, but that one star was bright in the sky.” She brought up a web page and began to study it hard.

Sirius furrowed his eyebrows; she might be on to something. “Alright, what did you find on that thing?” he asked, gesturing to the computer.

Hermione gasped, her eyes widened in shock at the computer. “Look at this,” she said as she pointed to the screen. “Last night all the planets were in alignment and this star,” she pointed to the middle of the screen, “was the center point.” Hermione clicked on the star to see in any information would appear. Sirius was fascinated at what he was looking at. It was very rare that the planets aligned with each other. That occurrence only happens every fifty years.

“All the information I can get is the name of the star, Volens astrum. That's it, no other information is available.”

“Doesn't that mean, The Wishing Star?”

“Yes,” Hermione said in a quiet whisper.

Sirius started laughing.

“What's so funny?”

“You made wish on the wishing star and it came true.”

“I believe I wished for a prince.”

Sirius stopped laughing. “You were lucky Severus didn't appear.”

“I guess the fates had other plans. Although I wonder what would have happened if Severus appeared.” Hermione clicked on another web page by accident. Christmas music started playing. It was in the middle of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.

“Someday soon we all will be together. If the Fates allow.” Sirius sang along. “That's one of the few holiday songs that I actually like.”

Hermione gasped. “That is my favorite Christmas song, and I was listening to it right before I fell and saw the star.”

Sirius kissed her nose and smiled. “See it was Christmas magic.”

Hermione smiled at her lover. “I think we were destined for each other and the fates gave us a second chance.”

“Then let’s not disappoint them, love,” he said as he picked her up and carried her off to bed. Leaving the music playing Christmas songs in the background.

A/N: Thank you to my beta valady for quickly getting this back to me. I'm just a bit nervous, since this is the first time writing this paring. I hope everyone enjoys it!