Chapter 2

Hermione suddenly realized she was goggling at him in the middle of the busy queue. He seemed to realize the same, and maintaining his grip on one of her arms, dragged her over to the corner of the shop, to give some semblance of privacy in the completely open room.

"What the hell are you doing here?" He suddenly demanded, pulling her around to face him.

Hermione bristled at his unexpectedly angry tone. His sudden shift in temperament threw her, and she was suddenly flustered, "Ah, excuse me, I think I should be the one asking you that! The last I knew, you were dead! So, how the hell are you here?!"

He looked surprised at that, and just stared at her for a moment before answering in a strained tone, "I've been back for five years. It was all over the papers. I would have thought you'd have read about it."

Hermione bit back an angry retort. It was none of his business that she didn't keep up with the wizarding world anymore, and she'd be damned if she told him anything about herself. "I hadn't heard," she said airily.

Sirius scoffed. "Not the know-it-all I remember, I see."

"How dare you," Hermione hissed. "You don't know me at all! You haven't even seen me in fifteen years!"

Suddenly his face was very close to hers and she had to resist the urge to step back. "And whose fault is that Hermione? Where the bloody hell have you been for the last eight years?!"

"Why do you care?!" Hermione practically shouted. She continued more softly when everyone in the shop looked their way. "It's none of your damn business anyway, Sirius Black!"

"Why do I care? I care because my godson has spent the last eight years mourning the loss of your friendship! How could you disappear like that, without telling anyone where you were going? Harry's been worried that you were dead!"

"Well, feel free to tell him I'm alive and well, and I have zero interest in reconnecting with anyone from my old life!" Hermione's head was spinning, she needed to get out of there. "I really must be going. I'm running late. Goodbye Sirius."

She pushed past him and stalked toward the door, ignoring him when he called her name.

Sirius watched, fuming, as she disappeared out the door. The nerve of that woman! Acting as if her betrayal of Harry's friendship was completely acceptable!

Shaking himself from his fury, he quickly left the shop and found a secluded alley to apparate to St. Mungo's. He was almost to Harry's room before he realized he had been so thoroughly distracted by Hermione's sudden appearance, he had forgotten the Danish. So much for avoiding Ginny's ire.

He knocked and was immediately bade to enter. As soon as he opened the door, Ginny was in front of him, eyes searching his hands for the bakery bag.

"Did you forget?" She asked, annoyance evident in her tone.

"No," Sirius fibbed. "Lyons kept me late. By the time I got there, they were sold out.

Ginny pursed her lips, but didn't pursue the topic further. He guessed it was to not upset Harry with their bickering.

Sirius moved around Ginny and walked over to the bed where Harry lay, propped up on a multitude of pillows. "How are you feeling today?"

"Better," Harry replied, sounding tired. "I'm still having trouble keeping my eyes open, but I'm not so completely out of it as yesterday."

Sirius nodded and took a seat in the chair by the bed. Ginny bustled over, fussing over Harry's blanket. "I'm fine, love." Harry told her. "Why don't you take an hour or two and go home, get some rest? Maybe go check on the kids? I'm sure Sirius wouldn't mind staying if you're worried about me being alone."

The look on her face told Sirius that she thought being alone would be preferable. "If you're sure you'll be alright?"

"Of course I'll be."

She nodded, kissing Harry quickly before leaving the room. Harry laid his head back with a sigh. "She's driving me crazy."

Sirius chuckled at the exasperation in his tone. "You're lucky to have someone who cares so much."

"Oh I know. But it's like she thinks if she fluffs my pillows enough or fixes my blanket perfectly, it'll make it so this never happened."

Sirius didn't respond. He agreed with Ginny on this one, since he also would do anything to make this go away.

Harry turned his head to look at him, "So, how did it go with Lyons?"

Sirius shrugged, "Oh, you know, the usual. Suspension and anger management classes. I think you'll get away with nothing more than a strong talking to when you're back on your feet."

Harry huffed weakly, "Why can't they just take your word for it? It's not like the guy was permanently damaged."

Sirius agreed with Harry's assessment, but stayed silent. Harry continued, "I was the one who was careless and let some petty criminal take me down. Why should you be punished?"

"I'm your partner. I should have been there." Sirius retorted hotly.

"Sirius, this isn't your fault. You know that, right?"

Sirius looked away, suddenly very interested in the curtains by the window. "Sirius?"

"What I know is that I should have been there. That had I been there, this wouldn't have happened." Sirius was breathing heavily, practically panting as his dog counterpart would be doing when stressed.

Harry wisely stayed silent, knowing that arguing with his agitated godfather would do no good. After several minutes, when Sirius' breathing evened out, Harry ventured with a small smile, "You did forget the Danish, didn't you?"

Sirius opened his mouth to tell Harry what had happened, but he hesitated. Finally, he said, "Yeah, I forgot them."

Harry laughed, settling back into the pillows, "Thought so. Good call, lying to Ginny. She's already in a pretty pissy mood..." Harry trailed off sleepily, and it was clear to Sirius he was close to falling asleep.

"My thoughts exactly. Rest your eyes Harry. I'll stay here until Ginny gets back." Harry obeyed, falling asleep almost instantly, and Sirius sat back in his chair.

Was it the right thing, not telling Harry that he had seen Hermione? Sirius wasn't sure. He probably wouldn't have hesitated if Harry hadn't been lying in a hospital bed, half asleep. He had been through so much in the last few days, Sirius didn't feel right adding to his stress, especially since Hermione had made it clear she wasn't interested in seeing him again.

That started Sirius' blood boiling again. Who was she to decide that, after making Harry suffer all those years? He knew Harry had looked for her, worried for her, and still thought of her often.

Sirius didn't know the details of what had happened, only that she and Ron had been engaged and there had been some sort of blow up that had lead to Hermione disappearing without a word to anyone. By the time Sirius had come back, she had already been gone for three years, yet Harry still missed her.

He now knew that Harry's unsuccessful attempts to find her was likely because she had been living as a muggle, and if he had to guess, not under her real name. That was the only explanation for her having no idea of his return. If she had any contact with the wizarding world at all, she would have known.

After much consideration, he decided he would spend his two-week suspension trying to find her again and convince her to see Harry. If he failed, he would tell Harry he saw her, to at least ease his mind that she was alive. Sirius had faith in himself that he would find her. He was an excellent Auror after all.