This is the first story I've written in a long time. Please feel free to point out any errors in grammar or spelling, as I am beta-less at the moment. Looking forward to hearing what you think, kind reader.
Chapter One- Back from the veil
Hermione's POV
The first thing that she noticed once the veil opened was a strange odor. She was sure that it was something that she had smelled before, both earthy and primal. Through her daze, she struggled to remember why the scent was so familiar. As a head of dark, wet and tangled hair emerged, it came back to her.
Before she got her Hogwarts letter, she was close friends with her neighbor's daughter Kathryn. One night while at her house for a sleepover, Kathryn's dog started to labor with her litter of puppies. They watched while one by one, shiny wet bundles of fur were born.
Birth. That was the heavy scent permeating her senses. A shaking body crawled from the veil, head down, dripping with the visceral aftermath of birth.
She reached out then, her own hands shaking violently and sweat pouring down her face. Hermione paused to wipe the stinging drops from her eyes before reaching out again.
"Sirius," she said, hating how weak and raw her voice sounded. "Sirius, is it really you?"
It hurt her physically to see him flinch away from the sound of her voice. She scooted closer; her hands were almost touching his face.
His eyes snapped up to hold hers the moment that her fingertips brushed his skin. Those bright grey orbs searched her eyes frantically, and there was a flash of recognition. The skin between his brows drew together in a deep frown, his worry lines harsh. His sides heaved along with his quick shallow breathing.
"Ha…Harry.." he rasped, barely making a sound.
She was surprised that she could find her own voice.
"He's alive. Alive and well."
She sprang at him then, pulling him into a tight embrace. "You're alive. I can't believe I finally did it."
Hermione stroked his hair, not caring that he was as wet and naked as the day he was born. His face was buried next to her heart and she began to hum quietly as she pushed the wet locks out of his eyes. His trembling eased, and he relaxed against her.
"I don't really remember much of what happened," he said. His voice was muffled and rough. "I remember Bella and..."
"She's dead. Molly took care of her. You were dead too, Sirius. I was finally able to bring you back. I did it for Harry. He was so miserable and lost, even after he..."
She made herself stop. She was rambling, and the last thing the poor man needed was for her to turn into a blubbering mess. She took a huge, trembling breath.
"I have to get you out of here. I know how difficult this has to be for you, but you're going to have to walk out of here. I brought Harry's cloak with me. If we are going to sneak out of here then we need to hurry."
Hermione pulled away from him and grabbed the cloak from her bag. She stood up and carefully helped him to his feet. He wobbled unsteadily, but was able to take small, shuffling steps. Knowing that was the best she could hope for under the circumstances, she threw the shimmering cloak over him.
She threw all of her things into her bag and motioned from him to follow. They didn't run into anyone leaving the Department of Mysteries, and they reached the lift quicker than she thought possible. Once inside, she whispered for Sirius to get behind her in case anyone joined them.
Her face heated when she felt the full length of him pressed against her back, and fought to keep her face neutral. It must have worked, because the few Ministry workers who'd entered with them seemed none the wiser.
Now they just needed to make it to Muggle London.
The fates were smiling down on them because a few tense moments later and they exited onto a street bustling with the mid-day foot traffic of downtown.
"We are going to take a cab to my flat," she whispered, and felt him squeeze her shoulder. She frantically waved down a cab.
Hermione had so many questions for him, and keeping quiet during the short carbide was testing her patience. The cab driver tried to make polite conversation, but gave up with she kept replying with clipped one word responses. Once he gave up, the rest of the ride passed in silence. When they arrived at her building, she practically threw the fare and a generous tip at the man and hopped out.
Moments later, they were locked safe inside her flat.
"I know that we both are looking for answers, but I think you should shower and have something to eat first. Then we can talk." She suggested.
Hermione went into her kitchen to whip up a plate of fruit and sandwiches. She wasn't sure if he would be hungry, but she was. Besides, it never hurt to be prepared. After that was done, she laid some clothes for him on her bed and closed the door so that he could get dressed in peace.
Twenty minutes later he emerged dressed in a t-shirt and jogging pants. He looked so much better, and he gave her a small smile. She returned it with a huge smile of her own. Ushering him over to the couch, she fussed over him. Once he had a plate of food in his lap and a cup of tea in front of him on the table she sat down next to him.
"I know that you must have so many questions."
He nodded, taking a sip of his tea.
"How long was I gone?" he asked.
"It's been almost three years," She said quietly. After a sharp intake of breath and an intense glare from him, she told him everything. His death. Their hunt for horcruxes. The battle at Hogwarts. The complicated, possibly illegal blood ritual she used to bring him back.
"I don't understand. You can't just bring people back to life." He said
She smirked tiredly.
"The only reason I was able to do it because you were still alive when you passed through the veil. After the final battle and the dust settled, I started to research how to bring you back. Everyone is going to be so happy to see you." She started muttering to herself. "I need to send owls, make floo calls,"
"Hermione," he said, interrupting her. "I think that I need a night to recover. Maybe we can wait until tomorrow. It's been the strangest day I can remember, and all I want to do is sleep."
"Oh, of course!" she exclaimed, embarrassed that she didn't realized he was shattered.
She patted his arm.
"Why don't you finish eating and get some sleep. I'll just owl Harry and let him know I will be stopping by in the morning. I won't even tell him why." She said with a laugh.
After he had eaten his fill, he stood up from the couch and stretched, yawning hugely.
"I know I haven't said it yet, and it certainly won't be the last time," He paused and grabbed her hand, hauling her up to stand beside him and into a tight hug. "Thank you, Hermione. I owe you my life, and I'm so grateful."
Hermione flushed with pleasure. "It's no trouble at all. I would do it all over again if I had to. I know that Harry will be so thrilled." She patted his back and pulled away.
With one last tired smile, Sirius went into the guest room and stretched out on the pillowy mattress. Within moments his eyes were closed and he was fast asleep.
Sirius POV
He sat up suddenly in the pitch-black of night, and it took him a few minutes to remember where he was. Sirius didn't know what made him wake up out of a deep sleep. Just as he began to lie back down, he heard a shrill muffled cry. Frowning, he got out of bed. He opened the door and heard it again, more clearly this time. It was coming from down the hall. Hermione's room. Cursing the fact he had no wand, he crept down the hall. Her door was cracked and a dim light trickled into the hallway.
"Noooo. I'm not…not going to betray him. I'll…never tell you."
Hermione was talking in her sleep. He hesitated at the door, unsure if he should go inside.
"Please! Please…someone help me!"
Her louder and more soul wrenching cry startled him into action, and he thrust the door open. His heart clenched at the scene playing out in the moonlight streaming through the window. Hermione's face was contorted in pain; her back arched high off the bed. Her hands were clawing at the sheets, and her head whipped violently back and forth.
A piercing scream ripped its way from deep inside her, wordless and hopeless. Sirius had heard that sound many times, from others and himself when imprisoned in Azkaban. He never thought he would hear it coming from her.
He ran to her side and grabbed her by the shoulders, shaking her a bit more roughly than he intended.
"Hermione, wake up! You're only dreaming!' He shouted.
She jolted awake, breathing hard. When she met his eyes, she burst into tears.
Sirius pulled the weeping girl to him and her tears quickly dampened the front of his shirt. He smoothed her wild hair away from her face, whispering low words of comfort into the soft bushy cloud of curls. He rocked her like a child, and after a few minutes her sobbing slowed. Her hands, which had been twisted into his shirt relaxed.
"Better now, love?" He murmured quietly, and she nodded against him. Sirius continued to soothe her, noticing that she smelled of ink and the warm scent of vanilla. She had matured over the last three years, and his body registered he was holding a woman. Hermione was pressed tightly against him. He mentally scolded himself for even allowing his thoughts to travel down that road.
"Do you have nightmares like this often?" He asked, looking down at her. Hermione's eyes were puffy, and her face was splotchy.
She nodded, but didn't elaborate. It must be worse than she is letting on. Sirius gave her one last squeeze, and started to stand. Her hands clutched at his arm, and his eyes snapped to her face. She was beet red, head hanging down.
"It's alright, Sirius. I don't know what came over me. I just…I just don't want to be alone." She whispered, and he had to strain to hear her.
He sighed deeply and sat back down.
"Come on then, budge over and give me some room. I'm hanging off the bed."
She was obviously embarrassed, but did as he asked anyway. Hermione lay stiffly beside him, seeming to be tensed for an attack. Sirius reached for her hand, and rubbed circles on her skin with his thumb. She gradually relaxed and he started to drift off. He felt her squeeze his hand as he succumbed to sleep.