The Art of Love

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Hermione laughed gaily at the vision that was Snuffles, the enormous black dog, also labeled a Grim, barking madly and running at full speed after a flock of pure white pigeons.

He was beautiful, plain and simple there was no other word to describe him. That thick, luxurious ebony pelt and dancing stormy blue eyes, not to mention those long, sharp, dangerous looking teeth and long, surprisingly flexible tongue … stop that, she scolded and giggled, dropping her head and closing her eyes tight. She still couldn’t stop grinning like the Cheshire Cat.

She jumped then relaxed when Harry wrapped his arms around her waist, while Remus laid down a large picnic blanket and their food. The day was sunny and the sky was a perfect summer blue, perfect for a picnic, Sirius had said, but they all suspected that he simply wanted to chase pigeons through the park.

Harry tightened his arms around her and smiled against her cheek. “You’ve seemed so much happier lately, Hermione,” he said simply as they watched Snuffles bark and take chase after another flock. “You know, Ron’s my mate, but he was never going to be right for you. He‘s simple with the emotion capacity of a teaspoon, as he always was. But I’ve always known that you’d need more, a man of depth and passion.”

Hermione turned in is arms and looked up at the taller man, his glasses sitting snugly on the top of his nose and his shaggy black hair, shifting in the breeze. “Harry,” she said carefully, “what are you getting at.”

He grinned mischievously, his emerald green eyes flashing. “I’m not getting at anything, love,” he replied kissing the tip of her nose. “I just want you to know that I love you, and that I’m always going to be here, by your side, no matter what.”

Hermione gave him a watery smile, she had been wondering which side of the divide he sat on, since her break from Ron and now she knew. Ron would always be his friend, but Harry would remain in her corner. “Thank you,” she whispered.

“And,” Harry continued, “who ever you choose to be with,” his eyes flicked over to Snuffles then back to her, “don’t ever think that I will be upset or think less of you…”

“How long have you known?” Hermione pulled back and hissed sharply, guessing quickly what he was on about.

Harry grinned, “About a week, a little longer, maybe.”

Hermione huffed and sat down and he sat with her, his brow knitting in concern. “It’s not what you think Harry.”

“Oh so you’re not having unbelievably good sex with Padfoot?” Remus quipped, his voice laced with amusement, chuckling at Hermione’s scandalized cry. “Oh come on Hermione, I’ve seen that look before, many times.” But at the way Hermione’s face dropped, Remus tried to correct his mistake. “No, that came out wrong. I meant.”

“Forget it,” Hermione said lightly, pushing away that lump of disappointment that was rising. A smile touching her lips when she felt Harry elbow Remus behind her back and knew they were exchanging silently. “Will you two kindly stop talking about me with your eyes, behind my back?” she snapped, and giggled at the absurdity of what she’d just said.

“Love, Remus said that wrong …”

“No, he didn’t.” Hermione said quietly, “It’s true. Look, I don’t know what your little sewing circle has decided is happening between Sirius and me, but you’re wrong. I was feeling …” she tossed trying to find the right words, “Undesirable after the break up with Ron.” She laughed bitterly, “Not that I felt that desirable with Ron. But the point is, I needed to feel like I was still female and well who’s better at making that apparent then Sirius. It’s just a fling, just for the summer. So stop looking for the “Romance of the Century,” because you’re not going to find it here. I am one nerdy bookworm in a long line of women.”

She felt Remus and Harry look at each other again incredulously and seethed when they suddenly started laughing, loudly. “I don’t need this.” she muttered and went to stand, fully intending to stomp all the way back home. But was pulled back down by both men. “What?”

Harry snaked his arm around her waist and brushed a lock of hair behind her ear. “You have no idea how gorgeous you are do you?” he murmured.

Remus nuzzled affectionately at the crook of her throat and shoulder. “Merlin, Hermione I would have given anything to have you look at me, the way you look at him. If I’d known that you …” he let the sentence hang but there was no mistaking the desire in his voice, and her breath caught in her throat, very aware of just how close they were.

She looked back towards Snuffles, and tried not to sigh when Sirius transformed into the tall, charismatic wizard, that she had grown so close to over the last few weeks. He looked so damn good in those tight black jeans and the untucked, half-unbuttoned white shirt, sleeves rolled to his elbows. His eyes met hers and a slow smile spread across his full lips, his eyes warming, holding her captive, making her feel light and her heart flutter.

“There is it,” Remus murmured, his voice thick, “I can name ten men who would gladly dance with a dementor to have you look at them that way, sweetheart.”

“I’m not some silly girl, Remus. I know how this is going to work out already.” She licked her lips feeling her eyes prick as she watched the dark haired wizard draw closer. “And it won’t be what ever Jane Austen novel you’ve been reading. So let it go.”

Remus leaned closer, winding an arm around her shoulders and smirking at Sirius, whose eyes narrowed on the two. “You think I’m just going on the way you look at him?”

Hermione looked at him then, her eyes full of confusion and he was about to elaborate when Sirius dropped to the blanket. “Alright you three?” he asked, eyes narrowing further on the two men embracing Hermione while he grabbed a bottle of water from the basket and drank deeply. Hermione nipped at her lip at the way his throat pulsed with each swallow and followed a single droplet of water escape down his stubbled chin.

“Sure Padfoot, just letting this lovely lady know how wonderful she is,” Remus said, chuckling and smirking smugly at the way Sirius’ eyes narrowed further, if that was possible.

Hermione blushed and pulled away, giggling when Harry kissed her cheek warmly.

“Is that so?” Sirius asked darkly not looking at Hermione, but glaring at his old friend who merely raised a brow in challenge.

Harry nodded and gave her another squeeze, “Ron was a prat and Hermione is a gorgeous babe,” he said and laughed, “But so bloody stubborn.”

Hermione huffed and wriggled away. “I am not,” she grumbled, crossing her arms, childishly. “Besides if I wasn’t the stick in the mud I am, you’d have gotten yourself expelled after the third year and Sirius would still be in that veil.”

“And that’s what we love about you, Hermione,” Remus chuckled. “My god I think you liked Sirius even less then Lily did, but you never gave up, even after we all had lost hope.”

It was Sirius’ turn to look up, “You didn’t like me?” he said quietly, his puppy dog eyes making her cringe inwardly and want to kiss him better all at the same time.

“Well you didn’t exactly like me either, Sirius,” she said softly, her eyes pleading with him to understand. “At least I had tact enough to keep it to myself. You called me a – a know-it-all swot, always trying to keep Harry from having fun,” she laughed bitterly and looked down. “I remember thinking that you sounded just like Severus.”

Sirius jumped to his feet, outraged at her last remark. He raised his hand, about to retort, and again but unable to think of anything appropriate he quickly changed back into his dog form and went back to chasing the pigeons.

Hermione giggled a hand covering her mouth; he was damn sexy when he was angry. “I thought steam was actually going to come out of his ears,” she shook her head clear, “Now look I don’t know what fairytale you two are trying to stuff me into, but it’s wrong. This is not that story. I would never be irresponsible enough to fall in love with Sirius Black, and he, plain and simple, would never fall in love with me. So give it a rest,” she huffed again when both men grinned knowingly and grabbed another bottle of water from the basket.

~*~*~

The four walked in silence through Diagon Alley, Hermione and Sirius on either side of Remus and Harry, neither looking nor talking to the other. The awkwardness was so thick Hermione was sure she could use Snape’s slicing curse on it. She snuck a look at Sirius just in time to see him looking at a tall, stunning redhead and snickered. “Oh yeah boys,” she sneered silently, “We’re your regular Bennet and Darcy.”

They walked on, and Hermione felt a heat, as though she were being watched. She turned just in time to see Sirius look away and felt her cheeks flush. She rolled her eyes and kept walking. Why the hell couldn’t he just be a man already and talk to her? “Oh yeah,” she raged silently, “’cause that would be the adult thing to do, and we can’t have The Sirius Black acting his age.”

“Well!” Remus clapped his hands and swung towards them. “This is my stop gentlemen.” His eyes fell on Hermione and he lifted her hand and kissed the back softly. “Lady. I expect I’ll see you all soon,” with a last raised brow at Harry he turned on his heel and headed quickly down Knockturn Alley.

The remaining three walked in silence until Harry suddenly spotted the Quality Quiditch Supplies he gave what sounded like a cry of relief and covered his mouth in shock. After a moment he mumbled an excuse about needing a new broom and quickly pecked Hermione’s cheek before scurrying off.

People bustled by while Hermione and Sirius stood facing one another, both looking down at their feet, and neither wanting to be the first to start. When they did speak both blurted out the same thing, “I’m sorry I …” she signaled for him to continue.

Sirius closed in and placed his hands on her shoulders, “I’m sorry I called you a swot,” he said, looking sad and ashamed of his attitude towards the younger her.

She smiled and covered his hands with her own. “I’m sorry I called you an irresponsible child.”

Sirius caressed her cheek with his thumb and stepped closer. “And the Snivellus remark?”

“Oh no I meant that,” she quipped and laughed at the way his face darkened and his eyes narrowed. Her radiant smile was back as she brushed a loose strand of hair from his face and dragged her thumb over his pouting mouth. “You know, you’re beautiful when you’re angry,” she purred and squealed when his arm snapped out, wound around her waist and pulled her against him, before skillfully spinning them into the nearby alley away and shoving her hard against the stone wall.

“Will it make it easier to leave after we’ve finished fucking, the fact that you hate me?” he growled harshly into her ear, his voice cracking slightly. “Will you simply leave and forget everything that happened over these past few weeks?” Hermione looked up, shocked by the raw emotion in his rasping voice. Her stomach flipped and she felt herself tremble. Was it possible that … no of course not, but still …

“Sirius?” Hermione’s voice shook and she felt so confused by the emotions moving over his handsome face. Why couldn’t he just say it? Say what he wanted, from her, from this …

But before she could question him, Sirius’ mouth dipped and took hers in a passionate kiss that stole her breath and made her head feel light. Damn he was good at that. He tucked his hands behind her knees and lifted her effortlessly so she was balanced against the wall with her legs wrapped around his waist and her skirt bunched up around her hips. His lips continued to devour hers; even as his hands deftly ripped off her scanty knickers and flicked open his belt and pants.

“Mione?” he pleaded, his mouth a bare centimetre from her own, both wide and panting with need, “Tell me you won’t forget.”

She smiled, gasping at the feel of this thick cock nudging just between her soaking folds, so close to her heated entrance that she could feel her lower body mewing for him. “Never, I’ll never forget the way you make me feel … I …” but she never finished, her words replaced by a strangled moan as he thrust, roughly inside her, groaning rapturously into her ear.

Sirius took her hard; long, strong strokes making her jolt almost painfully against the stone wall. His thick length pumped mercilessly repeatedly, filling and stretching her fragile body, hurting her, thrilling her. This is what she wanted all along, and what she had always known Ron could never give her. Passion, strength, control – so brutal and primal it could only come from a man like Sirius.

His mouth seared a path over her throat and shoulder only to retrace and take her mouth again, all the while, muttering, groaning, growling the pleasure he took from her body. Loving the way she arched against him and begged for more. And he gave her more, unleashed the darker lust that he always restrained, not wanting to scare or hurt the women he fucked.

But she loved it, wanted more, and he gave it, with a cracked, “Fuck yes!” against her throat, he thrust harder, deeper, drinking her delighted cry and reveling at the rush of freedom he felt and for the first time understood those first few gasping breaths Moony always took after the change, howling at the full moon.

Her fingers scrapped against the stone wall as her body flew and the tight hot knot in her belly tightened. She felt the pads of her fingers breaking as she tried to grip the wall at her back. “Gods, Sirius, please,” she begged, so close to her completion yet unable to reach it. She felt him balance her more firmly against the wall then reach down between them.

Hermione felt him grin against her cheek as his expert fingers begin to circle her swollen clit. “Come for me,” he gasped against her ear, his hot breath puffing out roughly. “Come for me Brown-Eyes. Let me feel that tight twat milking me, baby. Nothing sweeter - My witch …” And her world exploded, red stars filled her vision and her body buckled and arched as she was lost to the molten waves flowing through her, from her toes to her fingertips.

Sirius just managed to muffle her scream of completion with his searing mouth, pride rushing through him as he felt her come hard in his arms. And he was there with her, riding her climax even as his own shook his slamming body, his own shocked cry muffled in her mouth as he gave it all to her, as he had never wanted to give it to another.

After they stayed, gasping, hot breath melding. “Will you?” Hermione asked, breathlessly. “Will you forget me, after I’m gone?”

Sirius’ eyes closed when his cheek rested against hers, and he knew the answer. “Never. I could never forget my brown-eyed girl.” he pulled back, eyes glittering and his grin wide. “Can I sing the song?” and he laughed when she slapped his arm, laughing as well, kissing his wet brow.

Almost in the same moment they realized where they were standing, and looked over too see people still bustling by at the mouth of the ally. They were just far enough back to be out of sight unless someone really looked. “Oh my gods,” Hermione squeaked her eyes wide with horror at what they had just done.

Sirius chuckled and nuzzled at her face and jaw. “I don’t know what you’re doing to me, Mione,” he murmured, “but don’t you dare stop. Bloody hell, Brown-Eyes, I completely forget where we were.”

“Do you – do you think anyone saw?” she said, her voice shaking.

“Nah, if they did they’d be cheering and throwing money,” he returned kissing around her jaw.

“You are so bad.” She slapped him again and dropped her head to his shoulder as she laughed, loving the way he laughed with her, raining kisses over her hair.