Truth or Dare ✔️

14

Hermione followed Sirius and Sue as she cradled her hand in the toweled ice. Sirius would look behind him to see her admiring the various pieces of art that seemed to be everywhere. He realized that they could make a day or two out of touring the chateau...he had planned on taking her to the Louvre.

He waited for her to catch up before he allowed Sue to continue further. Hermione looked up shyly at him. "All the art...Sirius!"

He smiled at her and nodded as he took her hand in his. "I know, Sunshine, I know. We can come back tomorrow after your visit with your mum, alright?"

Hermione's eyes lit up and she nodded.

Sirius, Hermione and Sue waded through the small pools of people who clamored to meet him and finally, there was no one between him and the old witch called Sissy. His smile widened and he released Hermione and Sue and ran to her, stopping abruptly at the old woman who was holding her arms out to receive him. He placed his arms around her and then picked her up and spun her around.

"SIRIUS ORION! I'M AN OLD LADY NOW!"

He allowed her body to slide down his and he looked deeply into her eyes and shook his head. "Never," he replied lovingly.

She cupped her hands on either side of his face. "You're still such the flirt!"

"Thank you for what you did for Hermione. We need to talk, you and me," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Her brow raised and her eyes scanned Hermione. "I already know everything there is to know about your Hermione," she said.

He stood up straight and his face lost all color.

"Do you love her, or is she merely convenient?"

"Convenient! How dare you ask me that!"

"Well? I await your reply," she said sternly, milking her accent for all it was worth.

"I love her," he said quietly. "I'd marry her today if I could."

Sissy smiled as she lowered her gaze toward the buckle of his belt. "Oh, men speak conveniently of love when it suits their agenda."

"What are they doing," Hermione asked Connie.

"Mother, honestly!"

"Quiet Constance," Sissy hissed.

"Your mother, really? But I thought..."

"Her Germanic accent, yes," Connie asked as Hermione nodded. "She was born right here in this Chateau. My father took her to Germany when they married. They met during the war, it was all terribly romantic," she said wistfully. "They didn't have much money...I was born in a small row-home in the capital city. When my father died from pneumonia, we returned here. I was but a petite."

Hermione nodded. "I'm sorry for your loss," Hermione said quietly as she touched Connie's hand.

"Ma Mere never remarried and kept the inflection of my father's native tongue to honor him."

"That's so beautiful. She loved your father then?"

Connie nodded her head. "Oh yes! My father was not a magus," she said and looked toward Hermione.

"Hold on! You're a half-blood!"

She smiled and nodded her head. "Why else do you think Sirius is so at home here? Suzanne, this is your area, I'll leave you to it."

"Thanks Mom," Sue said flatly.

"MOM?" Hermione cradled her head in her hands.

"Mother in law, to be precise," she said. "Sissy please, Sirius isn't a mouse for you to taunt."