Truth or Dare ✔️

A E -6

"You did...WHAT! How could you do that to me! To US! Remus!"

Distress plagued Remus' facial features. "You have to understand...I thought I was acting in your best interest!"

She shook her head. "I don't CARE! YOU HAD NO RIGHT!"

Remus nodded. "I know. I know!"

Tears streaked her reddened face and Crookshanks hopped down and put his paws up on Remus' leg. And she looked at her cat. "Traitor," she whispered. When Remus picked the cat up to be comforted, Crookshanks hissed and spit in his face. Remus dropped him and the cat landed on his feet and trotted back over to Hermione. She picked  him up and held him close to her. "I take it back," she said and kissed the top of his head.

"So much for level-headed," Sirius quipped, sipping his drink.

"Isn't it a bit early for that," she said staring at the glass in his hand.

He shrugged and downed the contents of the class. "It's five o'clock somewhere, Sunshine..."

"I need you here. With me...right now!"

"I am here," he replied.

Sirius had left the room at Hermione's request and waited just outside the door in the small corridor with Harry. He informed Harry what Remus had done and he thought that he took it quite well.

Hermione opened the door and looked into Sirius' gray eyes with a steely resolve. "I would like to meet Allison and your daughter, Penelope. When can it be arranged?"

Sirius nodded silently. "I'll respond to her owl immediately and I'll get it sent out straight away," he replied quietly. Hermione nodded and turned to move away, but he he gently grabbed at her arm and pulled her back to him and held her tightly to him.

"I understand why you did it Sirius, I do. Honestly, I do. We had no idea that you would be exonerated, did we? I'm just...a little," her voice cracked, giving her away to all three, "disappointed, is all...I wanted to be the one..."

Remus' face contorted and he banged his head on the door jam twice. Crookshanks wound his body around Sirius' legs and once again, he scoped the cat from the floor and held him close. "Come on, old friend, yer Mum needs you more than I do...go with her now, aye?"

The cat seemed content with being handed over to Hermione.

As promised, Sirius sent an owl and set up the floo to receive communication from her if she desired. In the letter, he explained to Ally that he was married but that he wanted to be in the Penelope's life. He didn't want a part time family situation for the child, but he could see no other way to do it? He was responsible for the both of them as far as he was concerned.

Hermione went to her quarters and sat on the bed, staring at the wall. Crookshanks snuggled in her lap and she absentmindedly scratched at his ears for so long that he nipped at her. She frowned and apologized. She meant what she said to Sirius about tackling one thing at a time, but Remus's confession hit her hard...

Within a span of two hours, Sirius recieved Allison's response:

Sirius,

You got married! Merlin's beard! I can't believe it! The GREAT UNOBTAINABLE SIRIUS BLACK got HITCHED! I'm actually laughing as I write this!

Of course I would love to meet your new wife! I am happy that she wants to meet Penny and me, I really am! And I am beyond thrilled that you want to see her! I absolutely believe that a little girl needs her Daddy in her life! I can speak from experience, of course, you'd know all about that, wouldn't you? Ha ha!