Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Kaleidoscope	By : Nocturne Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Sirius/Hermione Views: 25576 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: All characters belong to JK Rowling. I do not own the Harry Potter fandom, nor do I make any money from this fanfiction.

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He struck the piano keys one by one, denoting the undercurrents that had gone on through most of the night. It wasn’t any song he had played before, yet the notes fell together in perfect structure. The venue had cleared save for a few servers and the barman. Once again, Sirius was left to his own devices, and he couldn’t help but wonder what would come of the night.

He tapped the ash from his black cigarette and finished up Chopin’s Nocturne (op. 9 no. 1) just as one of the busty server’s approached him.

“We’re closing for the night,” she said, repeating the words he had heard his entire life.

Sirius got up from the piano stool and made his way out of the pub. The night was cold, colder than he remembered. He lifted the collar to his coat and continued to blow puffs of smoke into the frostbitten air. He had nearly made his way down the road until something caught his eye. It was small, shiny and probably worth more than his entire Gringott’s vault.

The young man knelt down and retrieved a diamond ring from the cobblestone. He could hardly believe it. The thing was just laying there, for anyone to pick up, possibly pawn and never think twice about. He, on the other hand, was cursed with a conscience. Sirius glanced around to see if anyone was there. The streets were clear. Whoever had dropped the ring was long gone.

Resigned, he twiddled it between his index finger and thumb until noticing a small engraving along the inner band. It read HG RW. Something about those initials rung familiar. It took him more than a few moments before he realized the answer.

~

Hermione and Ginny laughed and giggled and gossiped all the way home, deciding it would be more fun to take Muggle transportation than to simply Apparate. The night had been fun and filled with great people and great music. It was relatively perfect, that is, until they reached the door to their flat.

“Can we talk?”

Ginny froze, nudging Hermione. The brunette glanced up and noticed Ron standing in her living room with his hands in his pockets and his head tilted down. In any other circumstance, she would have scolded him for breaking into her flat but a few drinks too many had distorted her judgment.

“I’ll leave you two alone,” muttered Ginny, scurrying off to her bedroom. She shot Hermione a quick look before closing the door. “Call me if you need anything.”

Hermione nodded, taking a seat on her armchair. “What a night.”

“I take it you went out?” suggested Ron.

She nodded. “Went to a show at…at…Wyvern Wing.”

He arched an eyebrow. “You? There? That’s…unusual.”

“I know,” smiled the brunette. “I really like music. Do you like music?”

Ron stared at her strangely. “You’re pissed.”

“That I am,” she giggled. “I haven’t had this much to drink since…since…ever.”

He frowned. “Maybe I should drop by when you’re not obliterated.”

“Don’t you go giving me attitude about being drunk,” she said matter-of-factly. “I spent the whole last year ushering your arse around town and covering for you at every family function known to mankind.”

“Yes, but none of that was just after a fight.”

“I don’t care.”

“Maybe that’s the problem,” he slipped.

Hermione rolled her eyes. “You’re so jaded.”

“And you’re making this very, very difficult.”

“What?”

“I came over to apologize and ask for you back,” he said simply, glancing at her left hand. “But I guess you’ve made your choice.”

Hermione frowned. “What do you mean?” She followed his eyes and saw nothing for a moment, until it dawned on her. There was nothing. Her left hand was completely bare. “Oh no…”

“Don’t even try to act like –”

“It’s not an act!” She rushed past him and searched under the sofas, as though it could have jumped off her finger and under the furniture in a matter of seconds. “This is just what I needed tonight. Ugh.”

“Sorry for ruining such a good time.”

Hermione stood on both feet. “You’re really testing my patience.”

“What has gotten into you?” asked Ron, astounded. “Or who.”

That was it. That was all it took. In a matter of milliseconds, Hermione stormed to the door and slammed it open, pointing directly to the corridor. “Have a nice life, Ronald. Please don’t contact me for the rest of your bitter existence.”

He said nothing, just as she expected. Instead Ron stood there, staring between Hermione and the empty corridor. She had half a mind to drag him out until she, too, glanced outside and saw that the corridor wasn’t empty after all.

“Sirius?”

There, with impeccable timing, stood Sirius Black, looking calm and collected as ever in his clothes from earlier that night coupled with a long, black trench coat. “Sorry for interrupting.”

“You didn’t interrupt anything,” she said clearly. “Ron was just about to leave.” Hermione glanced at her ex. “Weren’t you?”

All he did was stand there in silence. His face was beet red, but not from anger. He looked more embarrassed and disappointed than angry. “I get it,” said Ron. “I’ll leave you alone.”

He slipped past Sirius on his way out, barely acknowledging him.

“I suppose you don’t need this anymore,” said the dark-haired wizard, tossing the ring in the air and catching it just in the nick of time.

Hermione gawked, rushing over and taking hold of it. “How did you – Where did you – Oh my – I –”

“I found it on the street, just outside of the pub.”

“It must have fallen out of my pocket on mine and Ginny’s way home.” Hermione clasped the ring firmly in her hand, feeling its warmth and realizing it had been in Sirius’ pocket for the last little while. “I feel like such an idiot for losing it.”

“Aren’t you a little young to be married?” he asked, slightly amused.

“I’m not married.”

“Wouldn’t think so after what I just witnessed.”

Hermione frowned. “I mean – I – I was never married. I was engaged.”

“Same difference.” Sirius strolled into her flat, plopping himself on one of the sofas and lighting his cigarette with the tip of his wand. “Do you mind?”

She usually did, but for some reason Hermione shook her head, locking the front door shut and plopping down right beside him. “Mind if I have one?”

“You smoke?”

“Erm – I can start.”

He laughed again, sliding one of the cigarettes in his pack halfway out and holding it up to her mouth. He waited like this for several seconds until she curved her lips around it and pulled the smoke stick free of its packaging. “I really am a terrible influence.”

“You think this is the first time I’ve smoked?” she asked.

Sirius nodded, lighting hers.

“Well, then, you’re right,” admitted Hermione, laughing herself this time around. “But tonight has been filled with many firsts.”

“Oh?” He took his first puff, filling in the air between them. “Explain.”

“First real concert. First time I’ve gotten so drunk. First encounter with a real musician.” Hermione felt silly listing such insignificant details to her dull existence, but everything had just fallen into place that night. She felt her eyes travel to his. “First real breakup.”

Sirius offered a slow nod, digesting the information. “You know, I would not have thought you and Weasley would have a thing had someone mentioned it at school.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Besides the fact that you’re complete opposites – and not in a good way?” he asked. “I always figured it would be you and Potter.”

Hermione had heard this before. It was tired, but coming from him it sounded brand new. “That’s interesting.”

“I mean, he is the Chosen One and all. Girls love that sort of thing, don’t they? A bloke who is destined for death…now that’s an aphrodisiac.”

She chuckled. “Harry’s like a brother to me.”

Sirius shrugged, taking another puff. “Adolescent love. I’m so glad to have escaped it unscathed.”

“I don’t believe that for a second,” Hermione confidently said.

“Why is that?”

“You’re you. There’s no way you haven’t been involved in some sort of heartbreak.”

He stared at her, amused beyond words. “I said I escaped unscathed. I didn’t say I was never involved.”

“Ah,” she had assumed as much. “Makes sense.”

“Better to be the heartbreaker than heartbroken.” Sirius blew out a couple of O’s. “Just take a look at your ex. I wouldn’t want to be in his shoes, no matter how gorgeous you are.”

She ignored the compliment. “You think I broke his heart?”

“I think you tore it out, shredded it to pieces and fed it to the wolves, love.”

Hermione gaped. “I…I…”

“But he probably deserved it,” Sirius swiftly added. “Doesn’t seem like he’s equipped to handle anything other than Wizards Chess.”

“You don’t know how right you are.”

“Then why bother?” he asked. “Why waste your time on someone you know isn’t right?”

She didn’t have an answer, not really. It was all just a jumble of emotions and expectations. “I felt like it was in our cards,” Hermione said, feeling just as stupid as she did honest. “Nobody knows what Ron and I went through, with Harry and all. He’s the only person in the world that understands what that was like.”

“So you felt it your duty to explore the option of being with him,” deduced Sirius. “Fair enough. But that still doesn’t justify an engagement.”

“Right you are,” said Hermione. “Perhaps that’s why I’m no longer engaged.”

“I’m being insensitive, aren’t I?”

She nodded. “It’s all right. I didn’t really expect much else.”

“Expectations mean a lot to you. I can tell.”

“Is that so?”

He turned to her. “Your parents expect you to get perfect marks in school. You get perfect marks in school. Your professors expect you to be Head Girl. You become Head Girl. Your friends expect you to pair with your likely half. You get engaged to the bloke.”

Hermione had never thought about it like that. “That may be true, but at some point or another, I wanted all of those things without the influence of others.”

“And what of tonight?”

She paused, waiting for him to continue.

He didn’t.

“Tonight I…I…”

“You went out and did something for yourself for a change, without knowing all the ramifications.” He blew more smoke in the air, watching as it faded into nothingness.

“Now, here I am,” said Hermione. “One broken engagement, a dozen or so drinks, one cigarette later...”

“And you’re happy,” Sirius said knowingly.

It took a moment for her to respond. “I am.”

“Well, I think that’s my cue to leave.” The young man gave her a quick bow of the head before lifting himself from the sofa and swiftly approaching the door.

Hermione paused, waiting for her body to catch up with her brain. Something, some sort of invisible force, was urging her to slam that door shut before his hand made motion to the touch the knob. But it all happened far too fast for her mind to comprehend. Without thinking, the former Head Girl shot up from her spot, feeling chills run up and down her spine as her coat fell to the hardwood floor.

“Wait,” she said, knees about to give out. “Don’t go.”

~

Sirius felt content with himself. He had done the right thing. He returned the ring, offered some much-needed advice and was about to make it home before midnight for the first time in nearly four months. It really was a great night. He reached for the door handle, barely brushing the brass knob before a small sound came from behind.

“Wait,” said Hermione. “Don’t go.”

He paused, turning around to notice her shoulders were bare and she was standing there in nothing but her little, black dress. A small feeling tugged at his chest as he noticed one of the straps was falling, revealing much more than she had probably hoped.

“Is something wrong?” he asked, feeling stupid. He had never been known to play dumb.

“I…I…”

“You…?”

She was clearly having trouble voicing her thoughts. He almost wanted to laugh, but he didn’t dare. Hermione held up her tiny hand, inside of which she still held the cigarette he had given her. “I need you to help me smoke this.”

He arched an eyebrow. “Alright…” Sirius lit another, seeing as his previous one was down to nothing. Both of them sat back down. “First you light it,” he said, showing the burning end. “Then you place the side with the filter between your lips, careful not to get it wet.” He displayed the action, first on him and then he assisted her. “What you want to do next is take a nice deep breath, all the way down,” he said, letting his eyes wander from her mouth, down her neck, to her chest, which was rising and falling with impeccable speed. Fucking hell.

“And then you do this,” she guessed, taking a deep breath like he said and breathing out puffs of smoke.

It took a moment for him to register what was happening. Sirius then nodded and followed his own instruction, feeling his insides blend together in one irreversible twist.

Without thinking, the dark-haired, silvery-eyed young man leaned in so close he could almost taste the lavender scent of Hermione’s shampoo, and in an instant, he released the pent up tension building in his core in one giant, smoldering stream of smoke.

Thanks for reading! Don't forget to rate/review :)

P.S. SMOKING IS BAD FOR YOU.

xo
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Kaleidoscope