Hermione could always count on the library being empty when she returned home, and so today she flooed into that room. She stepped out of the fireplace and sank into the oversized cushion that always sat on the rug, her favorite reading spot. As usual, it was surrounded by piles of books, some for research, others for pleasure. She was in the middle of about 6 of them at the moment. She often skipped around from book to book, choosing a light-hearted novel one day and a collection of morbid poetry the next, then jumping back to finish up the novel when the poetry took its toll on her mood. She picked up her very favorite novel, "The Sun Also Rises" by Ernest Hemingway. Her Jane Austen-loving mother often teased her for preferring such an American writer to the wonders of British Literature, but Hermione couldn't help it. Dickens and the Bronte' sisters couldn't hold a candle to the heart-wrenching simplicity of this book. She flipped absently through it, skimming over her favorite passages and hoping to distract herself, but it was futile.

"I have much admiration for your intellect and work ethic, Mrs. Black, but that is the extent of it." His voice had been soft, calm. She studied his face, searching for something to tell her that he was lying. There was nothing. His black eyes were as inscrutable as ever.

"Don't do that." She shot back. He raised his eyebrows, confused. She went on. "You've never called me Mrs. Black before. I don't need reminding."

He said nothing. His silence infuriated her. "Don't treat me like I threw myself at you, begging you to be with me. I said nothing, had no intention of every telling you—"

"You couldn't function, Hermione."

She glared up at him, her embarrassment at this predicament fueling her anger. She felt the hot tears fill her eyes once more. "You violated my mind. The most precious part of me."

He had looked stunned, as though she had slapped him. She wiped away her tears furiously, waiting for him to respond. When she looked up at him, his eyes were closed. He opened them again to meet hers. "You are right, Mrs. Black." That name again. Damn him. "It was perhaps…impetuous, and unfair."

No apology. How typical.

"If you are willing, and able, to put the incident behind us, I would like to attempt to maintain our professional relationship, as it was a month ago."

She was taken aback by that. She had been certain he would tell her to clear her things from his lab and never return.

"Keep in mind that my standards of work remain unaltered. If your work does not improve, I will have no choice but to end your internship, for your own well-being."

And she had accepted, offering stiff assurances that her work would improve, that she could handle the remainder of their time together. She would, somehow. She looked down at the book in her hands, and saw that she had turned to the final page.

"Oh, Jake," Brett said, "we could have had such a damned good time together."

Ahead was a mounted policeman in khaki directing traffic. He raised his baton. The car slowed suddenly pressing Brett against me.

"Yes," I said. "Isn't it pretty to think so?"

Hermione slammed the book shut. No, it wasn't pretty to think about at all.

LGLGLGLGLGLGLGLGLGLG

It was more than an hour later when she emerged from the library, her face carefully wiped of any trace of tears and her clothes freshened with a quick spell. She passed the bedroom and met Sirius at the top of the stairs,

"Hermione!" He gave her a sincere smile and a pleasant kiss in greeting, then pulled back to look at her. "You ok, kiddo? You look upset."

She smiled wanly. She had always liked that nickname, "Kiddo." This man didn't love her, but he cared for her. Damn you, Hermione Granger, what can't you be happy? Other people could be happy here, with him. "I'm just tired, that's all. It was a long day, and I stopped by to see Ginny on the way home." It wasn't a lie, exactly.

He nodded understandingly. "No problem. Take your time, get some dinner. I'll be in the lounge when you're ready." Of course. They needed to have sex tonight, because Sirius was going out of town tomorrow.

"Thanks, Sirius. I'll be up in a bit."

He tugged one of her curls lightly, releasing it and letting it bounce back into shape, and gave her a playful wink. "Of course, kiddo."

LGLGLGLGLGLGLG

That night she flipped herself over and asked Sirius to take her from behind. She closed her eyes and tried to just feel her husband, focusing on his how good his cock felt.

Sirius. Sirius's hands caressing her nipples.

Snapes hands, grasping her shoulders in frustration.

Sirius's hands, massing her clit in just the right way, until she gasped in ecstasy.

Would his hands be as rough in bed?

Sirius's lips on her back, kissing her as he moved in and out.

Severus, pushing her against the wall so hard that her back was bruised.

Sirius's cock could make her come again and again.

Sirius always held her after.

She bit her lip as she came for the third time, another man's face filling her mind. As she lay in her husband's arms, she was overwhelmed by confusion and grief and shame. Sirius's gentle snores soon filled the air, and Hermione untangled herself and went back to the library.