Many thanks to lolitaweasley, Roman's sundial and AkaShika0306 for their help for this chapter.
I hope my bad English had not given them to much work!
Chapter 2: Prompt #3 - The Other Side of the World
Hermione was speechless. She was dumbstruck. Astonished. Stunned. She could not move. Only the sounds of her and Sirius' breathing broke the silence. Panting. Wavering.
Suddenly, her mind finally seemed able to react and took in the full extent of Sirius' poor state. Merlin! He must be exhausted!
Forgetting all the basic rules of safety that required her to verify his identity Hermione rushed to his side and put an arm under his shoulders to support him before guiding him inside.
As they struggled down the narrow corridor, she felt him tense, and saw him open his mouth to speak, but only a hoarse moan escaped.
"Everything's fine, Sirius. You are home. I'm going to take care of you, I…" Suddenly remembering that her roommate was still sleeping peacefully two floors above while his godfather had just come back from the dead, Hermione yelled a shrill "HARRY!" while guiding Sirius to the living room where she placed him as comfortably as possible on the wide couch.
She conjured a large glass and cast an Aguamenti to fill it before handing it to Sirius. Seeing that he seemed to struggle to hold himself up, she realised with concern that he was too weak to do it on his own. She could not help but wonder how he managed to get to Grimmauld Place in this state. Where did he come from? Her curiosity seemed to rise as panic receded.
Hermione helped him drink a few sips without pushing more to avoid making him ill. His body must have been deprived during the time he was… Dead? She really didn't know, but she would, she was sure of that.
But what was Harry doing? His room wasn't on the other side of the world! He was always bragging about being the youngest Deputy Director of the Auror's Department yet he was sound asleep, oblivious to what was happening in his own home! He was constantly boasting that he was "Always on the alert". She was never going to let him live this one down.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, she heard rushed footsteps coming down the stairs and sighed with relief.
Sirius had apparently heard the cavalcade too since she felt him stretch again and try to get up. She put a hand under his back and slid a cushion behind him as Harry stepped through the door, wand in hand, jaw clenched, eyes hard. Auror Potter was showing his most professional attitude.
Quickly, Harry scanned the room and Hermione saw the tension gradually give way to amazement on his features. His wand still clenched, he stared at his godfather for what seemed like an eternity before stammering painfully, "But that… What… But it's not possible…"
As the words escaped his lips, his eyes fogged, but suddenly, something seemed to change within him, and he turned to scowl at Hermione. "It's absolutely not funny, Hermione!" Harry barked, glaring at his friend, who was staring at him, flabbergasted at being accused of something she would never even have thought of. "I do not know who convinced you to play this disgusting prank and-"
She jumped up, facing Harry, pissed beyond belief that he would think her capable of such a cruel prank. She opened her mouth ready to defend herself when a hoarse voice from lack of use rose: "You forgot the mirror, Harry…"
Those few words seemed to sweep away all the bitterness Harry was feeling. He stared at Hermione, wide-eyed, visibly skeptical, stammering: "It's him… It's Sirius… I… Hermione, it's Sirius, it's…"
Suddenly speechless, Harry let a loud sob escape before letting himself fall to the ground next to the couch and took Sirius in his arms. He was shedding tears that he did not even want to hold back as they came from the depths of his soul.
Sirius said nothing else, just stared at Harry as he realized this was real, not a cruel joke. And when his godson threw himself against him, holding him tight, as if to prevent him from disappearing again, he could do nothing but hug him back, his own tears leaving trails in the gray dust that covered his cheeks.
