A/N: Harry Potter sadly, does not belong to me. It belongs to JK Rowling. This plot line and some variations and unfamiliar characters do however, belong to me. Thanks for reading! And also, I am aware that I posted this as Sirius/Hermione. Everything will be explained soon, I just would like to do it once and only one.

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Sirius looked out the doorway of this godforsaken veil. It was the only thing that differed in this black abyss. This is worse than Azkaban ever could dream of being, he thought. It was just blank, dark and vast. When Sirius had gotten in here, he'd walk for hours, never growing hungry, never growing tired. Time was endless. Once in a while he would look out and see people.

As of late he saw a woman, who seemed familiar. It was so blurry however; if he'd of known her he would be able to tell who it was. He could make out that she had brown hair and was medium height. And could tell that she was a witch because the veil never moved, and she wore robes. She had been working at a desk for what seemed to be months even years now. Sirius would scream at her trying to get her to hear him, help him get out of this empty hell. But it was no use, she continued to sit at her desk and read, sometimes experiment with spells.

Suddenly, a tall blonde man came into view. Sirius struggled to hear what he was saying to the woman. He watched as the man pulled her chair out and urged her to get up and the woman shook her head laughing. After a bit, however she left with the man. And Sirius watched as they walked out the door. She laughed and waved the only other women Sirius had seen in his time in eh abyss.

*~*~*~*

Hermione Granger was looking through paperwork and reading countless volumes of books trying to find more research on the blasted veil in front of her. She had an office with the other workers in the Department of Mysteries but she liked working with the veil in sight as a reminder of the project she had been assigned. She huffed and set her head down on the desk. She had not given hope that she would find a way to retrieve Sirius out of the veil. So far her research had found that the veil only absorbed spells, which gave her hope that she'd at least be able to give Harry a body to bury. But she wondered, and hoped that he might still be alive after all. Seven years after the war had turned so much around for the wizarding world and she wanted to believe that there was better in store for their futures. Speaking of good, a man walked through a broken Hermione out of her reverie.

"Granger, come on, get out of here." He pulled her chair out, "Ginny says you haven't been home in over 30 hours! You got to get some fresh air."

"I've been home! Draco, stop it. I think I might be getting close and besides, Josie needs help here!" Hermione huffed. "Ginny's just been at Harry and Ron's."

"Josie!" Malfoy called.

"Yes, Mr. Malfoy?" came a voice from behind three rows of crystal balls. Josie popped her head out.

"What are you doing?" Malfoy asked, with a smirk displayed across his features.

"Just checking the crystal balls, updating the files on them, and-" Malfoy cut her off. "So, you don't need Hermione for anything, do you?"

"Not really," Josie shrugged.

"Traitor," Hermione huffed at Josie, trying not to laugh.

"Come on, Mione. I already talked to your boss; he said you're welcome to take the weekend early. Said you've more than put in your hours this week. I'm taking you to go home so you can shower and we're going out," Malfoy put a hand on her back and lead her out the door.

*~*~*~*~

Malfoy and Hermione walked up to her and Ginny's loft in Diagon Alley. They were both quiet, an awkward silence between the two of them.

"Granger, I need to talk to you. Do you mind if I come in?" Malfoy asked, looking anxious.

"Sure," she replied hesitantly, fishing her wand out and unlocking the door to the flat. "What about?" She looked up at him, caramel brown eyes staring into gray, filled with confusion.

"Can we sit?" Malfoy said, unsteadily.

"Oh, of course. Sorry, Draco," she sat on her favorite armchair, deep red and cozy. It always reminded her of the Gryffindor common room. Hermione motioned to him to have a seat on the loveseat next to her.

"I'll get straight to the point. Severus offered me a job at Hogwarts, and I've accepted it," Malfoy began. Hermione's face went from surprise, to happiness, to confusion as she absorbed what he said. "I want to get some things off my chest. This isn't that I don't care about you, I do, but with the war and everything, it just feels…"

"Forced," Hermione supplied. Malfoy nodded.

"It seems like we just started dating because, well, it was romantic and expected, but the thing is, I've tried over the last month, but I just feel platonic feelings about you. I mean, I do care about you, you're wonderful. I just don't feel anything romantic between us," Malfoy explained. Hermione smiled slowly.

"I know exactly what you mean. I didn't feel it either, but what are you going to do? Why did you decide to take the job? What subject?" Hermione questioned. "And while, we're being honest, dating you has felt like dating Ron or Harry."

Before Malfoy could answer, the fireplace roared to life and Hermione's boss's head showed up in green flames. "Ms. Granger! You must come back to the ministry immediately something's happened with the veil! Mr. Malfoy, good, you're here. You'll need to come as well, all Aurors presence is being requested, in case of emergency." As quickly as it had occurred, the man's face disappeared into the flames. Malfoy and Hermione looked at each other with wide eyes and disappeared with a pop!

~*~*~*~*~~*~

Sirius had been leaning against the veil, as he had done many times before and he slowly notice he was sinking through. What the bloody hell? He thought. Suddenly he was sprawled out on a cold stone floor with an OAF!

"What in the sodding blazes of hell?" he cursed picking himself on the ground only to be met with a shriek by a tall young woman with strawberry blonde and was that purple hair? Sirius wondered.

*~*~*~*~*~

TBC

Cliff hanger! As I stated before, this is a little confusing but all will be explained most likely in the next two chapters. I'm still debating on how I'm going to go about this plotline. I know how I want this started yet. Many thanks to those who review.

I.D.