Disclaimer: I do not own or claim to own anything in the Harry Potter universe. The only thing that belongs to me is the idea and Brenda. This is for entertainment purposes only.
Summery: SBHG. Sirius has fallen for her. The only problem is that she married someone else. I just don't see how you could ever be anything but mine.
Set up: Sirius Black never died. This story is set three years after the trio left Hogwarts.
A/N: There are NO spoilers in here for the Half-Blood Prince. It is a wonderful book that I have already finished, but I understand a lot of you haven't, so I am pretending I haven't read it yet.
Chapter One – Desert Rose
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I dream of fire
Those dreams that tie two hearts that will never die
And near the flames
The shadows play in the shape of the man's desire
This desert rose
Whose shadow bears the secret promise
This desert flower
No sweet perfume that would torture you more than this
Desert Rose - Sting
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Sirius sighed as he heard the owl hit his window. He had only lived in his new house for two weeks, and that bloody owl was going to break his new windows.
Running a hand through his shaggy black hair, Sirius stood up and opened the window. Pig soared around above his head, the letter it was delivering dangling from one foot.
"Get down here!" Sirius growled at Ron's owl. Pig landed on his table with a flourish, holding the letter up. Sirius quickly untied it, feeding the bird a handful of breadcrumbs from his own plate.
Sirius felt his heart sink as he looked at the cream colored envelope. He had been dreading this, hoping it wouldn't come. Slowly he ran his finger along the seal, unfolding the paper.
With joyful hearts
You are asked to be present
At the ceremony joining
Hermione Granger
And
Ronald Weasley
On Saturday, May 5th, 2007
At Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Sirius didn't notice Pig still making a mess on his table. The only think Sirius noticed was the painful feeling in his heart, and the cold of the paper in his hand. He slowly crinkled the invitation up, throwing it at his counter, a cry stuck in his throat.
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"Did you get all the invitations out?" Molly asked Hermione, sitting down at the table beside her.
Hermione smiled as she looked at her future mother-in-law. "Yes. We just sent Hedwig out to deliver one to Tonks, and Pig was going to send one to Sirius."
"Good. What's next on the list?" Molly said, smiling as Ginny, Harry and Remus entered the kitchen.
"Did you say you sent one to Sirius?" Remus asked.
Hermione looked over her shoulder at him. "Yes, I just sent Pig out. Why?"
Remus scrunched his eyebrows together. "No reason. I've got to go for a little bit. I need to meet Tonks." he said, before spinning on his heel and leaving the room.
"What was that about?" Molly said, not looking up from her checklist.
"I have no idea." Harry mumbled, before helping himself to a muffin and sitting down next to Hermione. "Having fun?"
"Planning a wedding is hard." Hermione said, keeping her face down. Her hair kept falling in her eyes, and she had to keep brushing it out of the way. Hermione loved her hair. Since graduating three years ago, her hair had calmed down, turning softer, although still curly.
"That's why I let Ginny handle all our plans." Harry said grinning.
Ginny sat down across from her mother. "Yes, well, I told you that if you paid for it, I'd plan it."
"And you planned a wonderful one." Harry said, grinning at his new bride.
Hermione rolled her eyes, admiring the love between the two. She wished she could find that kind of love, but Hermione knew it wouldn't come. She understood a true love like that was rare, and she knew that she wouldn't be one of those lucky people who ever got to experience it.
She loved Ron. She loved him as her best friend, but nothing more. When he proposed last month, she said yes, thankful that she wouldn't be left alone in life. It may not be a marriage of passion like Ginny's, but it was a marriage built on love. The wrong kind of love yes, but at least there was love.
"The guest list is complete." Hermione sighed, leaning back.
"Whose going to walk you down the aisle?" Ginny asked.
A sad smile crossed Hermione's face. "I wish my dad could." she said, voice soft. Her dad had suffered a heart attack last year and died. Hermione had been with him at the time, and still felt the shock and pain of losing him so suddenly.
Harry gently put his arm around her. "Did you ask Arthur?"
Hermione shook her head. "No. I didn't want to ask the groom's dad to walk the bride down the aisle. I haven't thought about whom to ask. I don't have any uncles or a brother."
"What about Remus or Sirius?" Ginny asked.
"That's a good idea." Molly jumped in.
Hermione looked at Harry. "Do you think one of them would do it for me?"
"Of course they would." Harry said.
"Maybe I'll ask one of them at the party tomorrow night." Hermione said, biting her lip. This wedding planning was confusing.
"Ask one of them what?" Ron said, striding into the room. His hair was hanging down in his eyes, and he was grinning.
"Wedding stuff." Molly said, smiling at her youngest son.
"Oh, keep me out of it then. I just need someone to tell me what time to show up." Ron walked behind Hermione's chair, putting his hand on her shoulder. "You okay?"
"Yes Ron, thanks for asking. I'm just worn out from planning all of this." Hermione said, smiling at him.
"Okay. Harry, you want to go out for awhile?" Ron said.
Harry looked at Ginny, who just smiled at him. "Sure Ron." he said, jumping up from the table. He quickly walked over to Ginny, kissing her soundly on the lips. "Be back soon honey." he said.
"Have fun. I love you." Ginny replied, grinning.
Hermione looked over to Ron. "Have a good time." she said.
"Okay." Ron said, following Harry out the door.
Hermione sighed. What would it feel like to have someone kiss you before they leave your side? Tell you that they love you?
"You okay Hermione?" Ginny said, noticing her friend sigh.
"Just fine. Let's get started on the menu." she said, leaning towards Molly.
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"Sirius, I know you're in here!" Remus called out from the messy living room. He looked around at the disarray. Sirius had been cleared of all charges two years ago, and had bought this small house not far from The Burrow just last month. The house was nice, although dirty already.
"Sirius!" he called again, entering the kitchen. Pig was standing on the dinning room table, mashing his foot in a pan of cold mashed potatoes. Remus waved his hand at the owl, sending it flying out the window.
Stepping over to the stove, Remus noticed the crumpled up invitation lying on the floor "SIRIUS BLACK!" he yelled.
"What do you want?" said Sirius, entering the kitchen from the back patio.
"I wanted to see how you were. I see that you got your invitation." Remus said, pointing to the crumpled paper.
"I'm fine, why wouldn't I be fine?" Sirius mumbled, sitting down at the table.
Remus sat down across from him. "We both know why you are not fine. The woman you love is getting married, and it isn't to you."
"I should never have told you." Sirius growled.
"No, you should have told her." Remus stated.
"Are you kidding me? Tell her that an old man is in love with young witch? I don't think so. I would have sent her screaming in the other direction." Sirius said.
"Your not old Sirius. Bitter yes, old no. I don't think Hermione would have reacted like that at all. You should have told her."
"She loves Ron." Sirius grumbled.
Remus studied his friend. "I don't think she does." he said softly.
"She is marrying him. Of course she loves him." Sirius said.
"She doesn't act like a woman in love. She never smiles Sirius. Ginny use to walk around for hours staring at the ring Harry bought her. Hermione doesn't even look at Ron's ring." Remus said.
"Just stop it Remus. I'm not telling her anything. She is going to marry Ron and have a nice, comfortable life. She deserves it." Sirius said, giving his friend a dirty look.
"Fine." Remus said. "But you do have to come to the wedding."
"Like hell." Sirius growled.
"How are you going to explain missing it if you don't want her to know you can't go because you love her?" Remus said, smirking.
"Fine. I'll go." Sirius said, standing up. "Now, I'm going to bed. Don't you have a woman to annoy?"
"Tonks knew I was going to be coming home late tonight." Remus said.
"Goodbye." Sirius said, stomping up the stairs.
Remus felt bad for his friend. He didn't blame Sirius for being afraid to tell Hermione the truth, but Remus also knew Sirius would regret it for the rest of his life if he didn't.