Truth or Dare ✔️

22

Hermione woke first, her eyes fluttering  open as she felt him stir in his sleep, moving closer if that was even possible, tucking his fingers beneath her hip. She raised her left hand and stared at the ring, realizing everything that it stood for, least of which was the promise of spending the rest of her life with the man curled up to her.

"Second thoughts," he asked in a low voice, still thick from sleep.

"Hmm?"

"Are you having second thoughts?"

"Absolutely not," she said. "I was merely admiring it. It's a beautiful ring...the setting, the stones, everything."

"Mmm." He buried his face in her hair.

"It's my birthstone you know?"

She felt him nod his head. "I know that. It's not why I chose it though."

"Oh?"

He shook his head and reached for his glass of wine which was empty and placed it back on the night table. "It's a stone of royalty," he said. She could hear the grin in his voice and she nudged him with her entire body, causing him to chuckle. "Actually, it represents fidelity and loyalty, sincerity and faithfulness."

"Ah. I suppose that's why Prince Charles chose it for Princess Diana's wedding ring?"

"I wouldn't know? Next time I see him, I'll ask him. How's that?"

She groaned and then chuckled as she covered her mouth so as not to speak ill of their sovereign. "Be nice..."

He chuckled as he sat up, "I am being nice!"

She rolled over and scooted up so that she could lay her head on his chest. "Are we still heading up to the main house this evening?"

"If you still want to?"

"Well, you promised me a tour..."

He nodded. "That I did, yes. They'll want us to stay for dinner you know? Especially after they see that ring..."

"Oh."

He nodded. He wondered what was holding her back...and every one of his insecurities plagued his brain.

"That means we'll have to dress." She curled her lip and he chuckled and rolled his eyes as he shook his head. "What's so funny?"

"I thought...well...?"

She sat up and looked hard into his eyes. "Sirius Orion Black, I swear! The differences between our ages bothers you more and more as time passes!"

"Well, you are what is known as jail bait Darling," he laughed. "You are beautiful,  thoughtful, insanely intelligent, definitely luscious...but at the end of the day, you're still...jail bait."

She sighed deeply as shook her head. "I have to figure out what to wear," she said wearily and rolled over and swung her legs of the edge of the large bed. She was aware of his eyes on her as she walked over to her wardrobe and opened it to find a selection of new dresses and suits that hadn't been there earlier and she gasped. "Where are my clothes?"

He nodded with a glance toward the wardrobe. "Those are your clothes."

"There's nothing in here that's mine!" She pulled out a black cocktail dress that she'd never laid eyes on. It was exactly the thing she would have picked out for herself and she pulled it out and held it out toward him in the air. "Is this your doing?"

He tilted his head and shook it. "No."

"Fleur then!"

She hear a tiny pop behind her that caused her to jump and she closed her eyes and huffed. Spinning around, she held out the dress. "Mistress called for Fleur?"

"Actually, no. But since you're here, did you put these in here?"

"Yes Mistress."

"You must return them at once!"

Fleur's eyes watered and she pulled at her ears. "Mistress Constance will be forever cross with Fleur! Fleur is a goodly house elf!"

"Connie picked these out?"

Fleur nodded her head. "Yes Mistress. She wanted you to have a wardrobe befitting your station! Please do not be cross with Fleur!"

"My station!"

Sirius crawled toward the foot of the bed and lay on his belly, leaning up on his arms. "Well, you are the consort of the Head of the House of Black, Hermione."

She shook her head. "I never liked that word."

He approached her, taking long strides to cross the floor quickly and took her in his arms. "Well, like it or not, that's what you are. For now, you are my consort, my companion. You will still be my consort after we marry."

"It sounds so...so...temporary!" She pushed him away and he grabbed her and held her although he found it a difficult task.

"Well it's not," he said and finally turned her around to face him. "Wizards marry for life as you well know. So,  unless you change your mind prior and make it so..." He released her and held his arms out. He closed his eyes and shook his head as his jaw clenched tightly as his arms fell to his side. "I knew it was a mistake asking you...giving you that ring." He turned and walked out, only to turn around and walk back into her room. "If you're of a mind, have the elf pack your things and I'll see that you return to Paris tonight. I'll contact your mother and let her know that you're on your way."

"W...what!" She approached him quickly. "Sirius!"

She heard the faint pop of disapperation and realized that she had no idea where he would have run off to...and that she was alone.

With tears streaming down her face, she dismissed Fleur and packed her things herself and waited for his return in her room. She lay on her bed and finally cried herself to sleep. She was awakened by someone sitting next to her and that someone was stroking her hair. She opened her eyes and looked into his eyes and all but leaped up and threw her arms around his neck sobbing.

He shook his head. "I'm an arsehole, Mione. I'm a sorry mess in fact." He breathed in deeply. "I went to London, to my house actually. Remus was there." He smiled and nodded his head. "Always the voice of reason, Remus. Lets just say that he read me the riot act. That you know your own mind and probably mine as well." He gave her a chance to respond and when she didn't, he continued, "I didn't contact your mother. But I will if you want to leave."

"I don't want to leave you, Sirius," she replied.

"I don't deserve you."

"You're right, you don't. You deserve better." She nodded and inhaled deeply. "So...I promise to double my efforts."

He looked into her eyes to find her grinning at him.

"If you ever do something like this again, I...well, I can't say what I'll do."

He nodded. "I understand."

"You still owe me a tour, Mister Black."

"Yes, I do. I suggest that you don one of those spiffy dresses. They'll make a fuss over you and that silly ring. I know they will."

"Alright. Which one should I wear? They're all quite lovely...and it's not a silly ring!"

He took her hand in his and kissed it tenderly.