The Marriage Law

The Fine Print

Authors Note:

I should have mentioned this earlier, but in this story, Remus still died in the war but he wasn't married to Tonks and he didn't have Teddy. He was married to Sirius.

More ANs at the end :)

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Sirius' POV:

Hermione can't even look at me. The entire time that we're talking about weddings at the Weasleys' she's cold and distant, always putting Fred or George in between us. I hate it for her, for us. I hate that she has to marry someone that she doesn't love, but I also hate it for me. Because now I have to marry someone who doesn't love me, even though I love her with all I am.

In truth, I've loved Hermione as long as I've known her. Her smarts, her wit, her breathtaking beauty...all of it made me fall head over heels for the brightest witch of her age. But she is disgusted with me. It echoes in the stiff way she holds herself, in the mechanical way she goes about tasks. But I still cannot hold myself back. Just as I am about to leave I work up with courage to say,

"Hermione, could I talk to you outside for a moment?"

Even from the distance between us, I can still see her face blanch. Fred leans over and whispers something in her ear, but she shakes her head and gets up to follow me outside. Once we're in private, Hermione starts sobbing. Her body wracking and breath shaky, she folds herself into my chest just like she used to do back when we were just friends and not...betrothed? I'm shocked, but I hold her tight, wishing that I knew what to say to make it better.

I'm not sure how long we stood there like that, but eventually her sobs quiet, and with one final sniffle she detangles herself from me.

"I'm sorry," she whispers. "I just...it's so sudden."

"I know it is, Hermione. Believe me, I know." My heart clinches. I want so badly to tell her how much I love her, but that is a confession for another time. It would just make things worse.

Hermione wipes her eyes furiously and sets her gaze, once again hard as steel. I know that look. It's the look that taught me not to mess with Hermione Granger.

"You know what, Sirius? I think we've been looking at this all wrong." She smiles at me, which should make me feel better, but I have a feeling that I won't like what's coming next. "The Ministry of Magic is forcing us to get married. But they forgot about the fine print. They can make us get married...even have a kid together...but they can't force us to stay married. Or to fall in love."

"I...guess." I try to sound upbeat, but I feel like she's just stabbed me. She just found a loophole around even having to tolerate me for too long. Go figure.

"Don't you see, Sirius?" She smiles again, almost giddy this time. "We can still be just friends. We can do that, right? Be friends who just happen to get married and have to have sex once or twice? We can still keep our friendship, without getting tangled up with love or whatever."

"Oh, Hermione," I say, barely above a whisper. "I wish that could be the case. I fear it's already too late."

And suddenly I've pulled her back up against my chest. Before I know what I'm doing my lips are on hers and it's incredible, it's perfect. But then she's shoving me away, hard, so hard that I fall over backward.

"Bloody hell, Sirius! What was that?"

Her features are contorted in rage. I wince and struggle to stand and face her.

"I...I don't know." Damn it. Even after kissing her, I still can't admit my feelings. "I just...flashbacks to Remus, I guess. There was a point where he swore he wouldn't fall in love with me...needless to say he did."

"And your response to that was to kiss him?" She raises an eyebrow at me skeptically.

"Of course. And it was...well let's just say that it went better than that did."

"I'm sorry about what happened to him, Sirius. It's not fair that he was taken from you so soon...especially since now you're stuck with me."

I laugh quietly.

"I don't see it as being stuck with you, Hermione. Like you said, we're already good friends. Now we just have to be good friends who live together and have sex. Whatever."

She hugs me again before she goes back inside and I try to be happy, I really do. But I just got friend-zoned by the girl I'm in love with and reminded of my dead husband, so that's kind of hard right now.

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AN:
Hey guys! Thank you for waiting so patiently for an update. I hope you like what I decided to do here. I know it's kinda chaotic and all over the place, but part of me feels like that's how Sirius' brain would be.

Listen, I'm really struggling to find motivation rn, so unless y'all want me to keep going I might stop writing. Feedback pls?

Love y'all!