Sirius opened heavy eyelids to find the world burning. Well, not the whole world. It was really just a tree, but Sirius could smell smoke, as well as... blood? Why did he smell blood? He and Hermione had been out taking a walk, when they had been attacked by a pack of werewolves-

He swung his head around and let out a strangled cry at the sight of Hermione's body.

Sirius pulled himself up, every part of him aching, and his paw turned to a hand. His fingers found her tangled hair, messy with blood. Her eyes were open, permanently filled with fear.

Sirius heaved himself over and collapsed down, arms around her body. Every strangled breath brought in the smell of more blood, and he gasped with pain.

Suddenly there was light, and voices, and then someone cried out Hermione's name. Not wanting to see the look on Snape's face, Sirius slipped into the darkness eagerly.

"Do you hear? They found that murderer Sirius Black! He killed another person!"

"Yes! Did you hear it was a girl? She was only nineteen...the wife of Severus Snape, the war hero. Apparently they were hiding Black from the authorities. The ministry hasn't pressed any charges on Severus."

"Yes, the loss of his wife is punishment enough. That man Black deserves to rot in Azkaban for what he did. That poor girl's husband...how must he feel?"

Severus Snape had been granted special permission to visit his wife's killer. He knelt on the ground in front of the cell, staring with a bitter sort of hatred at the man curled up in the corner.

"You deserve every punishment you receive," Snape said softly, his words coated with ice. "Death would be too kind for you."

"I didn't do it."

Snape shot up.

"How dare you!" He snarled, grabbing the bars violently. "She always stood up for you! Told them you were innocent! She kept you warm and fed when you deserved to waste away in the cold!"

Sirius raised his head, though it was difficult.

"I loved her, Snape," He said, coughing bitterly. "I loved Hermione Granger more than anything, more than my own damn life. I just couldn't save her."

Severus's hands fell to his sides, useless.

"You are a disgrace to her memory," he whispered. "I hope you burn in Hell, though even that may be too kind a fate for you."

The man in black then turned and walked away, his cloak billowing behind him.

After he was gone, Sirius dropped his head to the ground, closed his eyes, and desperately wished he would not wake.

The next day, Hermione Snape's funeral was held. Many people attended.

Sirius Black was not one of them.