Summary: She was called upon to answer a question that only Hermione Granger could answer. A bookish witch with a knack for remembering texts and other oddities was precisely what was needed to solve an issue in the sands of another land... However, did she unknowingly bite off more than she could chew when thirsting for one last adventure before her world turned domestic? Will that immediate risk take her for a new ride with someone they thought to have died years ago? Only time will tell, and only one man can answer that question.

"Magic is a supernatural force that can alter the fabric of reality at fundamental levels."

Hermione,

I need a huge favor. We stumbled upon a pyramid in Egypt, but that isn't the issue. The problem we are having is that I can't figure out the translations for this. It seems almost scary and confusing because a few of the symbols don't match any of the tombs nearby. I know you are well learned in ancient wizard pictographs and told the crew you could take a crack at it with ease. Can you come to check out this chamber? I will buy you and Ron a considerable wedding gift if you say you will. Please? It is unprecedented that we don't know what we are up against.

Bill Weasley

Hermione wrapped the face mask over her nose as they walked in the sands. She had just used the portkey and felt beyond a bit disheveled. The lands were a blend of wild sands and a lush river she knew to be the Nile. Before her was a tiny structure, no larger than a two-story house, but it held an odd timeless factor. Bill was waving at her while the winds blew over the dunes. He led her to a group of tents and shifted as they walked through the barrier into the campgrounds. She loosened her protective clothing and glanced around at the officials.

"Good day, Miss Granger, it is lovely to see you," An older wizard declared as he approached.

"Hello, you requested me personally? I hope I can help," Hermione sighed.

"My name is Michael Chase," a young blond wizard declared.

"Derrick Meekins," the darker-haired young wizard echoed as they both shook her hand.

"Alad Warren, head of operations out here," the older wizard murmured shaking her hand.

Bill hemmed and bobbed his head. "Well, we were in quite the conundrum, Hermione. They had called me, but it is a bit over my head. The writing is beyond anything we have read on this cursed chamber. We translated 'death,' and that was quite enough for any of us not to chance."

Hermione sighed loudly. "Well, what is the fundamental lettering of the language?"

"Pre-Egyptian most certainly. The vault was built under one of the older pyramids. At first, we thought it was just another treasure chamber, but we saw a few symbols we didn't recognize." The older wizard announced and waved her over.

The witch followed and unwrapped her face so she could analyze the pages. It was photographs and pictographs with guesses on their meanings. It was unlike anything she had ever seen. Her fingers traced them with interest and her cogs started turning double time.

"Well, that's the Nile," she murmured as she traced a few squiggly lines. "These pre-date Menes wizard hieroglyphs."

"How does she know this?" Michael whispered to Derrick.

"Chase, she is a witch who spends her free time reading. I knew she was the one to call." Bill declared, peering over her shoulder. "This, this is curious right here," he said and pointed to an arch next to the Nile.

"But that isn't Egyptian, Bill. That is a Sumerian wizard script," Hermione murmured and dug through her bag.

She held out a book and placed it open, flipping to almost the center. "See the lines are similar, even the figures. However, this pre-dates the book's script."

Hermione stood up and bobbed her head. "Alright, gentlemen, lead me to this chamber."

It was like the men shivered in anxiety and they agreed solemnly to lead her there. Bill scooped the woman under his arm and sighed. "Hermione, you are the last person I want to endanger so any sniff of trouble and I am taking you out."

She laughed as they reached the entrance. "Bill, I am quite certain you all are over reacting. There would be far more protection if it was a serious curse."

"Miss Granger, in all due respect, we have seen less protection on treasure than we have on this tomb." The older wizard announced. "Now, watch your step. The stairs were not built with the intention of constant use."

The hallway was thin, but the wizards had lit it as they traversed down. After a few moments, they entered a large chamber and Hermione gasped. "Oh, my stars," she grumbled and glanced around.

It was amazing. No, that word fell short. There were constellations all over the chamber that glittered against the dark walls. It was literally all the stars in the visible constellations. Hermione walked away from Bill toward the center of the chamber. It was absolutely stunning as she pivoted slowly.

"Hermione, over here," Bill called out.

The witch shook herself and walked over to the large stone doorway that was sealed. There were etchings all over it and it seemed so out of place. It all was scrabbled aside from the sphere surrounded by the unusual markings. "This is all… bizarre," Hermione sighed as she ran her fingers along the engravings.

Bill pointed to a symbol. "This, we were concerned when we saw this." He declared.

Hermione went to work and ran her fingers over the symbol and the ones near it. "It looks like- a warning," Hermione hemmed and frowned. "No, not quite. It isn't as ominous as it seems."

"What is it?" Bill whispered.

"I don't know, Bill. It mentions a gate. A window to something. It doesn't make much sense," Hermione sighed and pulled out her wand.

"Woah, girl! Don't cast in here," Derrick shouted with a sharp tone.

Without listening, Hermione tapped her wand to the symbols and they all shimmered blue. It wasn't that she wasn't aware of the dangers, but there was no evidence of issues in the script. Hermione backed up as Bill skirted toward the group at the entrance to the stairwell. "Hermione! Get out of here," he shouted as the stars started to glow brightly.

Hermione shook her head and walked toward the center of the chamber and the stone. "It is fine. Just a projection spell." She murmured and raised her wand up, flicking it.

The symbols flew off the wall and toward her as the chamber darkened. "What is she doing? What if she opens it up and we all get hexed?" one of the other wizard's growled.

"It isn't cursed, gentlemen. It is a chamber within a chamber. The sphere is encircling a gate. I just need to see…" She murmured as she flicked her wand from marking to marking in question. "There!"

The etchings she had tapped glimmered gold and flew at her. What Hermione didn't see was the golden wings as stretched around her as the chamber rumbled and shook. There was panic among the wizards until the wall rolled away and another room was revealed. The witch walked forward and her eyebrows rose as she saw what was inside. "Oh, no." she muttered causing the men to nearly launch at her side.

"Hermione… what did we find?" Bill asked as he entered the room.

The stone archway was menacing as it was erect in the middle of a dark chamber. The only thing that produced light was the curtain that swayed inside of the archway. Hermione once could not hear the voices that Harry claimed… but now she did in this room. They were intrusive and indescribable as they all entered with their wands lit. "It is another Veil gate…" Warren murmured, and Hermione could hear in his voice the confusion she felt.

The difference in this gate was profound. The arch was covered in pictographs and etchings while the misty curtain was a green tint. "We have to contact the minister," Hermione mumbled as she shivered.

"Most certainly. This is above Curse breakers," Bill declared and tugged at the witch who stood planted. "We need to leave, can you seal the room?"

"No, Bill, there is no sealing it. I solved the puzzle. I thought it was saying a gate to another room, I didn't know it was meaning another plane of existence," Hermione sighed and looked away from the arch.

"Why didn't you tell us, girl!" Alad hissed, gripping his wand tightly. "We asked for your help, not to possibly bring death upon us."

"The floods are coming. We need to get out of here, Warren. This place is going to be underwater by morning," one of the younger men said.

Bill convinced Hermione to leave the room despite her morbid interests to read the etchings on the archway. The small group left the chambers under the pyramid with little conversation. No one wanted to admit the gob smacking revelation that came from finding the Veil gate. It wasn't until they were back to camp and relaxing that Hermione was pouring over the texts on the table.

"It doesn't make any sense. Why would they seal away the chambers?" She sighed and looked over the notes.

Bill glanced down next to her and huffed. "Hermione, you can't just go all renegade here. These people are highly concerned with curses, myths and land. Alad Warren has been curse breaking for years. Chase and Meekins studied under me. You should have said what your findings were."

Hermione glanced back at him with a guilty expression. "I am sorry, Bill. I was curious. It has been forever since I have had an adventure and it got the best of me."

"If you plan to help us, you need to be aware that yours and everyone else's lives are at stake out here."

"I promise. Let me do some reports to hand over. Contact Shacklebolt for me?"

The Weasley reluctantly left her to work and sulk in her blame. The sun was setting in the distance as she started to take notes on everything that had occurred and the hieroglyphs she translated. The wizards were sitting at a campfire and talking amongst themselves, though Hermione could plainly hear them.

"It is a sign. Sirius is bright tonight and the gods are unhappy," Warren murmured and tossed a stick in the fire.

"Relax old man. We will unflood the pyramid tomorrow when the Unbreakables get here. There is no way they won't want a finger or two in this mess." Chase sighed shaking his head.

"Did you see her wings? That is an ill omen," Meekins muttered and the older wizard motioned agreement.

Hermione knew the blame was on herself. Why did she have such a strong desire to open it? She didn't even warn them and that was very little like herself. It was true. She was growing bored of all the paperwork she did daily these days. It made her happy to actively be bettering the world, but a piece of her thirst for adventure.

She was scratching away at her findings with a quill and exhaled. It was odd. The tight-lipped story of the veil in Britain was eerie, but this was just odd. This pre-dated anything they guessed about the gate in Britain. If it wasn't made by a curious wizard in the Founder's era, then what did this one mean? These people hardly could form words to a page, yet here they were staring at a Veil arch like it just grew out of the ground.

Glancing out at the Nile, Hermione frowned at the concept. Even in muggle history, it was very clear that these people were oddly efficient and ahead. However, magic explained that. Or did it? She wasn't sure and now had several books splayed out on the table in frustration. How? What created it? Why was it different? She was going to drive herself batty with contemplation.

"Granger, get your arse over here. Come get some ale and food in your belly," Chase shouted.

Hermione glanced up at them as they waved her over. Sighing, the witch set down her quill and marched over. "I can't explain it. I am completely baffled that it would be out here." She grumbled and flopped down on the bench next to Bill.

"How did Ron take your sudden trip?" He asked, trying to misdirect her mindset.

Hermione groaned and scrubbed her sand covered face. "How do you think? He blamed boredom and told me to bring him back a souvenir. It always surprises me of his compliance to my workload."

"Why is that a problem?" Bill snorted and waved his hand. "Fleur would be yanking my ear if she knew I was ecstatic that they said they needed me."

"It isn't a problem. Not really. I just am not sure if he is happy. We stopped arguing about a year back. I am not sure if it is because he is happy, or he is just as bored as I am with my job at times."

The other wizards glanced at each other. "Granger, you talk about your fiancé like he is breaking your arm." Meekins declared before sipping his mug.

"Just a lull, Hermione. Everyone goes through them. Remember, Ron was not expecting to enjoy the quiet life of working in a shop." Bill responded and nudged her as she drank a sip of her cup.

Alad glanced up and frowned at the pyramid. The young wizards followed his gaze and they all stood up. It was like a slow-motion movie… A figure had exited the structure and his clothing bellowed in the wind around him. They all stood up and remained still, terror as tangible as the vision in front of them. Whoever had exited the pyramid, did not enter; no barriers were broken since they left.

The sun had set, and the world was dark, but still, the figure marched forward directly toward them. It wasn't until he started to take shape that Hermione's glass fell from her hand and spilled on the sand below them. The man who had left the chamber wasn't supposed to be there. This man had died… eight years ago. Sirius Orion Black was holding onto his coat as he approached the barrier of their campsite and stumbled upon the befuddled group.

"Sirius?" Hermione breathed.

Like a rock to the head, the man's classic grin rose to his face and he arched an eyebrow. "I am Sirius, but your faces are oddly familiar." He paused and shifted his gaze around. "Where the bloody hell am I and what am I doing here?"