When Am I?

Disclaimer: Recognizable characters belong to J.K. Rowling; the unrecognizable are mine. EWE

Quidditch League, Season 5, Round 5: Prompt: CHASER 1: Lupine (as inspired by Remus Lupin): Write about a character demonstrating resilience after a personal trauma or tragedy (for example, ill health, a death, etc.)

Additional prompts: 2. (object) thorn; 11. (object) toilet paper; 15. (dialogue) "Never use my name and his name in the same sentence. Ever."

Words: 2108


Sirius Black stepped between his godson and his cousin. Harry Potter, though he was the Boy-Who-Lived, would have been no match for Bellatrix Black Lestrange, crazy, rabid, follower of self-titled Lord Voldemort. Aside from being more than twice his age, she had untold experience dueling and was not above using an unforgivable, or two, or three. Sirius and Bella fought, evenly matched, for what seemed like ages, but, was mere minutes. Then fate stepped in and tripped Sirius just as Bella cast one more unforgiveable curse. He fell backward through the Veil and narrowly escaped the "Avada Kedavra" cast by Bellatrix. He could not stop falling, but could hear her cackling, "I killed Sirius Black! I killed Sirius Black!"

He did not feel as though he had died. He felt no pain. He felt he was floating on air. There were no walls, no windows, no sky, no earth. He just was. He felt drawn to where Harry was sobbing uncontrollably, but could not reach out to him. He could see others, but they were more ephemeral, less tangent than he. He was not certain if he was dead, but he didn't feel dead. Time seemed to be whizzing past in both directions, forward and backward, up and down. He just could not seem to grasp it or feel it as it passed.

He lay there thinking about what had happened. Then there was an inkling of a memory, like the prick of a thorn when you grasp a rose by the stem, just hovering on the edge of his consciousness. He remembered being somehow pulled to Harry's side at the entrance to the Forbidden Forest. He was with Harry's parents whom he knew to be dead. Also, Remus Lupin was there in ghostly form. He presumed Remus to be dead as well. Harry was holding a stone in his hand which he guessed to be the Resurrection Stone from the Deathly Hallows. He thought he must be dead. When Harry moved forward he followed Lily and James Potter and Remus into the forest. The next thing he saw in the memory of the green flash of Voldemort's killing curse strike Harry. When Lily, James and Remus disappeared and he did not he knew that something was amiss. Harry was still alive, but pretending to be dead. Sirius was seemingly alive also, but not visible to the jubilant mob. Then he was sucked back to where?

The cloth covering his face and blocking his vision was pulled back and he was staring at an older, but more relaxed Hermione Granger. "Are you Sirius?" the old joke escaped from her mouth and he smirked at her.

"I guess so, darling," he laughed. "Couldn't you think of anything more original to say to me?"

He watched the shock on her face turn to confusion, then questioning, followed by wonder. Then the countenance settled into planning mode. He chuckled. Hermione had always been easy to read. This was why she could never play poker nor lie.

"Oh, my …" Hermione stuttered, "oh, my. What are we going to do?'

"What do you mean, 'What are we going to do?'" he asked, truly not understanding.

Hermione then remembered the folder of instructions. She should be making a floo call to Healer King at St. Mungo's as directed in the letter David Jenkins, her former supervisor, had left before entering the Veil. She also had to let Analisa Bones know that she was going to be off a couple of days and that Mr. Jenkins had "retired".

"Stay right where you are, Sirius," Hermione ordered. "We have to get you checked out. It has been a while since you were last seen."

Hermione left the Sirius, still tightly wrapped in the white cloths in which he was swaddled when arriving back from the Veil, lying on the hospital bed with only his head showing. He wondered how he could go anywhere. She quickly opened the floo and made the call to St. Mungo's.

"Healer King?" she inquired.

"One moment and I will get her," the receptionist professionally replied.

A minute later Hermione saw a face appear in fireplace. "Healer King here," the elderly Witch said. "What do you need?"

"I'm Hermione Granger, Department of Mysteries." Hermione introduced herself, then she said," Mr. Jenkins, David, left me instructions to floo call you when I received the traveler and transported him to the safe house. I have been directed to bring you him and you would know what to do."

"Yes, David contacted me about a month ago," Healer King stated. "I will need to get the potioner. Can you come here and escort us?"

"How long do you need?" Hermione asked. "I wouldn't want to leave the traveler alone long."

"Give me ten minutes and then come through," Healer King replied. "Professor Snape should be in his apothecary. He has potions and ingredients to bring for fresh brewing."

"I'll check back in ten minutes." Hermione had become accustomed to the safe house protocol where the secret keeper didn't give the address, but went through the floo and cast a silent destination after the person who would be coming through stepped into the fireplace. The silent destination was a difficult call and required careful enunciation.

She checked her muggle watch and then returned to Sirius' bedside. "The healer will be here with a potioner in a few minutes." Hermione hedged a little and looked out the window so that he would not see her discomfort at who she would be bringing to aid in his care.

"What aren't you telling me, Hermione?" Sirius asked. He was trying to figure out how much time had passed since he had seen her last and failed to realize that it was the names of the healer and potioner she had omitted. Suddenly it dawned on him, "Who's coming?"

"Healer King and a potioner."

"And the potioner is who?"

"Severus Snape. Sirius, calm down," Hermione pressed him back into the bed, glad that his arms and legs were essentially tied down.

"Never use my name and his name in the same sentence. Ever." Sirius gritted out through clenched teeth. "He'd sooner kill me as look at me. The feeling is mutual."

"No, Sirius, you're wrong. A lot has happened since you've been gone," Hermione began. "The war is over. Voldemort is dead. Severus was a spy for the Order. Harry is married to Ginny Weasley and they have a son, James Sirius Potter. I work for the Department of Mysteries in the Time Division." She glanced at her watch again. "Mickey's big hand says it has been ten minutes. I need to go get your healer."

"Don't bring him here," Sirius warned.

"You don't intimidate me," Hermione calmly replied. "I survived Bella's crucio."

She turned on her heel and left him wondering about the story concerning his cousin. Hermione went to the fireplace and stepped in to travel. "St. Mungo's Spell Damage Ward Office."

Stepping out she was greeted by a grey haired, blue eyed witch that held a medical bag. The black haired, onyx eyed wizard nodded. He also held a travel bag. "He's awake and complaining," Hermione reported. "Please step into the fireplace one at a time," she directed.

"Still a bossy, know-it-all, Miss Granger," Severus commented, cocking an eyebrow and smirking.

"Only difference," she answered, "is that now they pay me to be one."

He laughed. She had never heard him laugh before and it startled her. Healer King cleared her throat, "Ahem," to draw attention to the fact that she was standing in the fireplace. Hermione and Severus stared at each other and broke out laughing again. They both were reminded of Dolores Umbridge.

Hermione sobered and thought, "Faith Cottage" as she threw a handful of floo powder into the fireplace. It flashed green and Healer King disappeared. Severus stepped into the opening and Hermione repeated the procedure. After the second flash of green, she followed.

The healer was already in the sick-room observing Sirius Black. Severus Snape had followed her into the room and began putting out the potions, ingredients and a small travelling cauldron on the counter away from the window.

"Let's see what we have here," the healer commented. She levitated the wizard off the bed and began unwrapping the layers of cloth. "Hermione, check the drawers in the wardrobe for sleepwear or underwear. They should be stocked for any eventuality."

Hermione wondered if Sirius was as naked as the day he was born or if the healer just wanted him in something that would be easier for examination than the jeans, shirt and leather vest he'd been wearing when he entered the Veil. She shook the idea out of her head and handed the healer a pair of sleep pants and a soft t-shirt. She quickly went into the main room so she would not embarrass Sirius or herself with her presence during his robing or disrobing and re-robing as the case may be.

The healer called out, "Do you think there is toilet paper stocked somewhere? Mr. Black needs to use the facilities and the paper seems to be missing."

Hermione ducked her head in embarrassment for him because the elderly healer obviously had no filters. She had not heard Severus follow out of the room, but she heard him chuckle from the kitchen. "There's paper in the hall linen closet," he told her. "Yes, before you ask, I have been here before." He continued to make tea. "The hall closet has bed linens, bath linens, toilet paper, tooth brushes, shampoo, hair brushes, combs, etcetera for the travelers. They don't always remember to pack those when they go through the Veil. If they come from the past, they may not even own them. This is why the wardrobe is stocked with undergarments, sleepwear and robes in assorted sizes, both male and female. We never know who will show up, although this time I am quite surprised."

Hermione nodded.

"You haven't read the folder, have you?" he asked, not unkindly, but stating a fact nonetheless.

"I haven't had time," Hermione defended. "Mr. Jenkins was there when I finished my watch and went home to sleep yesterday. This morning when I returned, he was gone and shortly thereafter Sirius arrived." She thought a minute, then said, "I wonder if there is anything about a traveler coming from only fifteen years after their disappearance into the Veil? How do we explain it? Will everyone in the wizarding world want their loved ones back? What are we going to do since he bequeathed everything to Harry? What will Harry do?"

"Breathe, Hermione," Severus said, "and drink your tea. Read your folder when you get a chance. I have made some clear broth for Mr. Black because he will be wanting something warm in his stomach soon. They all do. I'll also get the toilet paper." He left the room carrying a tray with three cups of tea and a cup of broth on it. He retrieved the toilet paper from the closet and entered the sick-room. "By the way, your house-elves are waiting for you to call them. Annie has seniority." He chuckled again. He had not had such a fun day in ages and the look on Hermione's face was priceless.

"She's so young," Healer King said. "It's a lot of responsibility."

"She is," Severus replied. "But if anyone is up to the task, Hermione Granger is."

"Hermione, Mr. Black is ready for you," the healer called. "He is to take the purple potion before he goes to sleep again. Severus is making some fresh super-nutrient potion, which should be given immediately upon completion, while hot. It absorbs into his system more quickly, staving off any lasting effect of the time travel. He can have soup for supper and porridge in the morning, after which he will need the usual regimen. You need to bring us here again in about twenty-four hours, otherwise you are on your own. We are just a floo call away in emergency."

"So, I take it he has passed his physical examination?" Hermione inquired.

"Yes, except that he shows signs of smoking and drinking too much."

"Yeah, well, he always did." Hermione walked them to the floo and said, "See you tomorrow morning."

Hermione went into the room carrying the instruction folder. She sat near the bed in a comfortable arm chair and began to read only to be interrupted by Sirius' cough to draw her attention. "Do you have any questions? I'm not certain I can answer all, but I will try."

"Well, I know it is the future, but Hermione when am I?"