"To love is nothing. To be loved is something. But to love and be loved, that's everything."

— T. Tolis

After her shower Hermione tugged on a pair of tight jeans and an old sweater of Draco's. it had been his in Hogwarts, but he had since filled out and Hermione was happy to confiscate the unreasonably soft plum jumper. She smiled to herself as she spelled her hair dry and was happy to see her curls, now tamed by time, gave a nice contrast to the deep color of the jumper. After a quick application of gloss Hermione grabbed her outerwear and then flooed to Grimmauld Place.

"Kitten!" A loud voice proclaimed, and Hermione froze. Sirius said he'd be gone for another week at least. "I finished early. Harry let it slip you'd be meeting Ginny here. Thought we could talk." He said cheerfully. She grimaced but followed behind him to the library.

"My offer is still open. I've known you since you were thirteen, and I have no intention of being your parents, but being your family is something I can do. Besides, it will give you protection, having a strong family name backing you." He said, for once his countenance matching his name.

"What about Harry?" she asked.

"What about him?"

"I…I don't want to take his position or be his replacement." She said after a moment of silence.

"You wouldn't be my godchild. You'd be my heir. Harry has his own line to inherent. You aren't his replacement, as we aren't yours. Can't families just grow and love each other?" he asked rhetorically. "Look, I'm staying here the next couple of weeks. Come talk to me when you are free." He said before smiling and then pulling her into a hug. "For now, go enjoy your gossip." He said, before slightly shoving her to the door.

She made her way out to find Ginny downstairs waiting. The two donned their coats and headed out to meet Luna and Daphne at their favorite café. While the girls chatted, Hermione's mind was thrown back to what she and Sirius had been talking about.

Flashback – 3 years ago.

The battle had been over for hours and all Hermione wanted was a hot shower and sleep. The dead had been gathered, people were moved to St. Mungo's, and repairs could wait. With that in mind, Hermione bid farewell to her former transfiguration professor, grabbed Harry, and apparated the two of them back to Grimmauld Place before Molly forced them to The Burrow.

Upon arriving the two froze to see a body collapsed on the ground by the floo, black hair obscuring their face, and their breathing shallow. Hermione immediately began to cast diagnostic and other such spells while Harry got a good look at the intruder.

"Si… Sirius?" he gasped in shock, his wand almost falling to the floor. Hermione flinched, but didn't stop, making sure the man in front of her would survive. After half an hour she sat back and sighed. She had done all she could for now and figured a bed would do the rest. Harry carefully levitated his godfather to his chambers while Hermione went to see if there were any potions left in the house and send out notes to the remaining order members about the situation.

After both had showered and taken turns giving Sirius his potions, the two sat vigil over his bed. An hour had come and gone, so the use of Polyjuice was no longer a concern, but questions remained. Harry fell asleep first, and Hermione didn't blame him. She followed not long after, her head slumped down on the bed, mirroring her friends position on Sirius' other side, both teens clutching the slumbering mans hands in their own.

When Sirius woke up he was warm, and not alone. Two hands held his own and he squeezed them, so happy to no longer be alone in the dark. Harry didn't flinch at the sudden pressure, but Hermione sat up quickly, her wand pointed at Sirius and the man froze. She studied him for a minute before narrowing her eyes.

"What song couldn't you stop singing the Christmas of Harry's fifth year?" She asked. Sirius chuckled before responding.

"God rest ye Merry Hippogriffs, though that's an easy one." He said, and her eyes narrowed further before relaxing and she smiled.

"Fine, who was your first kiss with?" Sirius gulped, and Hermione smirked.

"James." He said after a moment and the brunette witch chuckled. "Why do you look older?" He asked suddenly, and she froze mid-laugh.

"You need to rest, but I promise I'll explain everything. Now that I'm certain it's you, I guess we don't have to watch over you quite so much." She bit her lip and stood up. "Harry needs a real bed, it's been a rough few days." The Boy who Lived slumbered on, despite Hermione levitating him, and she was prepared to leave when Sirius stopped her.

"Put him up here. Please. I…I don't want to be alone. Could you both stay?" Hermione halted at how vulnerable the man sounded and instead of insisting that he rest she gently placed Harry next to him. Summoning extra blankets and tucking him in.

Despite the two grown men on the bed, Hermione barely hesitated to crawl up on Sirius' other side, a blanket around her, and plenty of room on the gigantic bed. She was quickly out, and Sirius followed, his hands once more clasped in both Harry's and Hermione's.

Molly, upon getting a note from Hermione about the recently returned Sirius, immediately flooed over to Grimmauld Place prepared for the worse. Seeing no sign of anyone, Molly searched the house and eventually found the three. Both orphans were passed out on either side of the slumbering man, clutching his hands like lifelines, their faces, for once, showing no sign of strain.

Molly, instead of waking them and demanding answers, left quietly. She flooed home to inform the rest of what she had seen, kissed her husband and then she sent everyone to bed. The rest could wait, the worst were over, and sleep was needed.

It took about four months for repairs to be made, Sirius to be cleared, and Hermione to locate and try to reverse the damage to her parents. It couldn't be done, obliviators said, and Hermione sank into depression.

Sirius found her curled up in the library late one Saturday, her parents' memory album clutched to her chest and dried tears on her face. His heart went out to her and in that moment he made the decision to take care of the young witch who had helped him with his recovery. He could never repay her for what she did to protect Harry, but he damn well would try. That's why, when she had woken, she was greeted by a serious Sirius, despite the small smile on his face.

"Hermione," he began, handing her a fresh cup of tea, "can we talk?" he asked, and she nodded, sitting up. "I Know that you feel alone, and don't think I'm saying this because I want to replace your parents, but I have a proposition of sorts for you." When she didn't say anything he continued, "I want to adopt you as the Heir of House Black."

Hermione sloshed tea down her front at Sirius' statement and floundered about for a response. "Sirius, I don't think that's a good idea. We just fought a war on blood purity… let's give it time before you make such a permanent decision. I know you're lonely, but I can't replace everyone you lost. Don't make such a sudden decision out of grief."

"So if I ask again in a couple years?" he responded, and Hermione knew he wouldn't give up.

"I'm not sure. I need time to grieve, just as you do. Anything could happen though." She replied. He simply nodded before getting up.

"regardless, you need anything, you let me know. I won't let you be alone in the next few years. All of us need to be there for each other, and if you decide not too, I understand. I won't let that stop me from being your friend." He nodded to himself before exiting the library, whistling as he went.

End flashback

"Hermione?" Ginny asked, and she realized she'd been staring numbly at her food.

"Sorry. Just thinking. Sirius grabbed me before we left and I don't know what to do." She responded and the three girls around her nodded.

"Accept his offer. Being the Heir would give you more power to change things, and at this point if anyone has anything negative to say, they can shove off." Ginny replied.

"Seriously, take his offer. It can't hurt to not be alone, and he's not trying to make you Harry's replacement or Remus'. He's thought this through, it's a big risk on his part, but he is offering it to you anyway." Daphne said. "What's holding you back?"

"I don't know how to the Heir to some pureblood house." Hermione answered.

"No's asking you to turn into a pureblood. Just be you." Luna answered in her dreamy voice, and Hermione smiled.

"I guess you're right." She nodded before continuing, "I'll do it."

"Good. Now that that three-year-old issue is resolved, that's move on to the next one. Is that Draco's sweater?" Daphne asked, and Hermione blushed.

"Maybe?" she answered with a laugh and the four girls dissolved into giggles.

AN:

Thank you for reading, please review!

Much Love, T!