Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns the world and the characters, I make no profit out of this, and I do not own.

A/N: I work a lot with characters, their traits, personalities, relationships and events that shape them. Lately, I have been thinking about Narcissa Malfoy; I have determined she is most definitely a Black. The woman stood up to the Dark Lord, looked into his eyes and lied. That is some serious cohones (I love that word). Sirius Black, however, is a difficult character, we do not get to see enough of him and what we do see is a post-Azkaban Sirius. He never got a chance to heal. I try to incorporate Sirius at this point of his life as well as possible. Enough of me lets get on with it.

Enjoy!


A Grim Greeting

The following morning Hermione woke with a blinding headache. She stretched out her limbs and repeatedly swallowed to ail her parched throat. Hermione tried to remember the previous evening, going out, dancing yes, dancing with a man. Suddenly she hears a loud snore, and she freezes. The last adventure night comes flooding back to her with such a force she feels like she was knocked back by a tidal wave. Dancing, kissing, the piggyback ride...getting undressed. She rips up the cover and notices that she is thankfully somewhat clothed. 'Thank god' she sighed as she remembered having stopped before going too far and losing her virginity on a night of drunken debauchery. Another snore causes her to slowly pull back her cover and turn to look at the man sleeping next to her. Face down and away all she sees is an arm with some faded tattoos and long black hair.

'Cannot deal with this right now' she tells herself and slowly extract from the bed, careful not to wake the man. She throws on a robe and heads for the bathroom taking care of needs and getting the smeared makeup of her. 'Coffee needs coffee. And water, loads and loads of water, maybe an obliviate'. Heading to the kitchen, she starts the coffeemaker and ponders her life; had she gone too far, gone too much on the wild side? This was certainly not expected. No matter how much she wanted to live for her new motto, there were certain things that she just wasn't ready for; example number one was lying upstairs right now. She wasn't ready for getting drunk and picking up strange men at bars. Feeling remorse and angst of the whole situation she fails to notice the man standing in the doorway.

Meanwhile, as Hermione shuts the bedroom door, Sirius awakes. He took a good look around and slowly realised that it was not his bedroom, far too girly and far too few girl posters decorated the walls for it to be his. Memories of yesterday flood him, and he smiled; he had met the loveliest of ladies. As he picks up the discarded clothes thrown about the floor he takes a good look around. He needed to figure out the woman before she kicked him out.

He stopped at the entrance to the kitchen seeing the young lady - Mia - looking away from him and out the window. Her straight hair had curled a bit over the night, and once again he is struck with a spark of recognition.

"Good morning," he said, and she turned around fast. A shocked expression on her face, her coffee cup slips from her hand and shatters on the hard floor. A small whispered "Sirius".

He hears her whisper his name, a name he did not give out yesterday. Then her eyes roll back, and he quickly goes to her in three longs strides and captures her before she falls. Shock, panic and dread fill him as he holds an unconscious Mia. Bringing her to the living room, he placed her on the sofa and began pacing back and forth trying to figure out what just happened and what he should do. What he should do is alert the Order. He can hear the yelling and shouting bound to happen, and he would never see the outside of Grimmauld place for as long as he lives. While pacing, he turned his eyes back to the unconscious witch and noticed she is very much not unconscious. Big round brown eyes are staring back at him. He pauses and waits for the conclusion of this encounter.

She stares at him, pacing back and forth until he sees her staring. He seems to be panicking.

IIIIIIII

"Mia?" He whispered.

'Mia? Yea that's right I gave him my fake ID name. But why is he calling me that now? Wait. Does he not recognise me? Should I continue this roust? I called him Sirius and... God! My wand is upstairs right next to the bed; he could have seen it. Shit! Shit shit shit! If I don't tell him who I am he is bound to contact the Order, he is a wanted criminal, and I recognised him. That would bring the Order here... FUCK that would not look good. What if they found out I almost slept with him and Harry... No! No no no. I almost slept with Harry's godfather, what would he think of me? Hermione, you got yourself in real deep shit! You must tell him who you are; you can't let the Order find you like this'.

"Sirius... Um, do you not recognise me?" She asked carefully.

'Recognize?' He knew he recognised something about her.

"Um... Well, there is something about you that seems familiar, especially now your hair is curlier" Sirius said.

'That pesky bird's nest always being a bitch.'

"Um, It's Hermione..." He looked confused. "Hermione Granger, Harry's friend. Shrieking Shack?" She notices his face pale even more if that was possible and realises he now knows who she is.

'Fuck!' He screamed in his head as he suddenly remembers the bushy-haired best friend of his godson — the amazing witch that saved his life. She looks different, more grown up. 'But she isn't grown up. Harry turns 15 this year.' His pesky mind reminds him. Sirius Black for the first time feels like he is about to faint. The idiot went to bed with a child, a goddamn CHILD last night, a child best friends with his godson. A child that he would have... 'Don't go there!'.

A myriad of emotions etched on his face and with worry that he is going to freak out Hermione steps up to him and grabs hold of his hand. He seems to relax slightly at the gestures but his eyes, which focus is on her, screams of panic.

"You did nothing... We did nothing. Stop panicking, please. Sirius sit down and let's talk" she begs and leads him to the sofa. He sat down while she went to the kitchen to grab two cups of strong dark coffee and sits down next to him.

"I... We... Harry..." He stammers out. Knowing where he is going with this, she cuts him off.

"Yes, but nothing happened, I didn't recognise you yesterday, and you did not recognise me. It's not surprising; we only met a few short times."

"You are fourteen."

Sighing "fifteen, I turn 16 September 19th... I have a fake ID. I... You couldn't have known." She grabs his hand, and he turns to look at her, and his face shows clear upset emotions. "Sirius, you did nothing wrong" he jumps up from his seat and stands in front of her cutting her of effectively.

"NOTHING WRONG?!" he yelled "I did nothing wrong, you think?! I almost slept with you! I would have had you not stopped me... I... God, I... I deserve that time in Azkaban" the last words come out in a whisper.

She stares at him in shock, not having realised just how much last night had affected him. Saddened by his last whispering words and the pain and torment he must feel, she is determined to set his mind right.

"But you didn't... We didn't... have sex." She said blushing. "And you weren't the only one; it takes two to tango." Standing up she puts her arms around him in a comforting hug; he hugs her back reluctantly. "Sirius" she whispered at the crook of his neck "I was also a part of yesterday, I grabbed your hand, I pulled you out of there. I pulled you home. I jumped at you the second we got through the door." 'If anyone is at fault here; it is me. It's me who Harry will hate, me who went out.'

Her words affect him and calm him down slightly, but the feeling of almost turning a true monster haunts him. It does not matter that had he had the slightest idea of who she was or how old she was he would have never, NEVER, gone that far. But what happened to her? Why does she have a fake ID? Why does she go out drinking alone? Why is this house empty? It's a Sunday, where are her parents? Questions in a multitude that he must have the answers to, not just to quell his interested but because nothing about any of it makes any sense.

"Hermione, I would have never done what I did have I known. You must believe me" he begs of her.

"I do know that, and the same goes for me, Sirius."

"Hermione, I don't get a few things, why where you out? Drinking, fake ID... Not that I mean to blame you, not at all. I don't understand. Sure, I don't know much about you, but what Harry has told me it does not sound like you" he said, "and where are your parents?" At the last sentence, he feels her stiffen, and she pulls back.

"Sit down Sirius, let me explain".

IIIIIIII

As they sat down on the sofa, she knows she must tell him all that has happened in the past weeks. She begins telling him about the letter, the realisation, her parents and all that has transpired over the summer she feels him getting more and more emotional. She feels him getting upset, angry and sad; she also hears him laugh at some of the stories. He gets furious hearing about Camden market incident and Gavin, hearing him mutter crude words under his breath as she tells the story. Coming to an end and why she was out last night, she feels a relief of finally telling someone of the emotional rollercoaster. Tears of relief, sadness and anger roll down her cheeks, which he wipes off with his thumbs.

Hearing about all she has been through he gets frustrated and outraged. Her parents just left her, up and abandoned her? Her?! an angel? He wished that they were here, so he could give them a piece of his mind, damn the circumstances of him being here the first place. And that Gavin boy, the thoughts turn nasty here and highly illegal. Many theories about finding him and severing his ability to procreate come to mind.

He hears her voice breaking as she explains and turns to see small tears falling. Wiping them away he realises how completely alone she must be feeling, how broken down she must have been over her abandonment to up and changed her life so drastically; he must do something about it.

"Come with me," Sirius said.

She looks at him with a frown.

"Come with me, to my place; there are many free rooms available, you should not stay here alone, it's not safe and... Hermione, it is not good for you."

She wipes away the few remaining tears. "I don't know…"

"Hermione, please. It is safe, not just me there."

"Okay, perhaps you're right. Had it not been you yesterday, I... I wonder if another guy would have stopped..." Hermione replied after a long pause.

'No another guy would perhaps not have stopped' his mind tells him, and the anger bubbles underneath his skin.

"That is true, Hermione." He said bluntly. Seeing her frightened, he reiterates. "Not all guys are good. I do not wish to frighten you, but you should know the truth, and that is another reason you should come with me. My place is safe, very safe and I'll be there to keep you safe" he swears this to her and himself. "Come on" he stands and pulls her up. "Let's grab your things and go."

They walk upstairs in silence and start packing up her things, books and clothes, all her possessions they pack up. "Can I use your wand?" He asks.

"Why?"

"It's a lot to carry; I could shrink it, I would also need it to apparate with you".

"yeah right, didn't think of that," she replied and laughed a bit. Hearing her laugh again brings out a smile, it is the most adorable laughter.

"All set?" He asked, and she nodded.

Cat carrier in one hand, a reluctant cat inside. Crookshanks had not appreciated being torn from a little box in the cupboard and stuffed in a carrier. With Hermione next to him they headed out the door and to a secluded area to apparate.

"I'll take you side-along. Have you ever done that before?" He asked.

"No"

"Well alright, it might be a bit uncomfortable for you. You should close your eyes and hold on to me tight" Sirius said and pulled her towards his chest and apparated away.

Landing in the apparition spot a short distance from Grimmauld place she wrestles out of his grip and hurls behind her. "Oh god," she whispered.

He laughed "yeah sucks; you'll get the hang of it eventually".

"I hope, it's just I've been feeling like doing that all morning, feels kinda good now." He laughed even more at her revelation, and soon she smiled at him.

"I'm glad you are feeling better. Come on Hermione; it's just a short walk away."

Standing outside his birth home, he hands her a piece of paper "Read it and think of it". She read the note and a house pushing itself into existence. "Alright. Now as you may not know, this is my birth home and the headquarters. So yeah, hopefully, no one is home if we can be so lucky. Oh, and try and be quiet, we don't want to wake up mother" he said, and they enter the door.

IIIIIIII

Stepping through the door to Grimmauld place the sneaked in trying to be as quiet as possible just after closing the door behind them and seeing the hallway clear and not hearing anything both Hermione and Sirius sigh and relax. Perhaps just a tad too early though when a loud noise shakes the house, and a painting of a very foulmouthed woman starts screaming.

"VILE CREATURES IN MY HOME! GET OUT! GET OUT! MUDBLOODS! HALF-BREED MONSTERS! BRINGING SHAME TO THE HOUSE OF MY FATHERS! BLOOD-TRAITORS!"

"SHUT UP, YOU OLD HAG!" Sirius yelled at the painting and closed the curtain ending the woman's speech. Hermione stands in the doorway surprised and holding fingers in her ears. Stumbling down the stairs comes to the source of the noise as a pink haired girl falls flat on the ground. As things could not get any worse the door across the hall opens with another bang revealing a very sour-looking potions Professor. His eyes flicker from the girl in the bottom of the stairs, trying to get up, to Sirius and lastly on Hermione trying but failing to hide behind Sirius, smirking he folds the arms in front of him.

"Quite an entrance Black, going into show business?" The professor asked smugly.

"Shut up, Snivellus! Mind your own business. What are you doing here anyway? Shouldn't you be of kissing ass?" Sirius saids and turned to Snape trying to block out the girl standing behind him. 'Seriously Sirius? Nice comeback…'

"Well I wouldn't have to be here but since the owner decided to... What really?... go out for a stroll? Perhaps go sniff the ass of a poodle?" He asked sounding very satisfied.

He is trying to get under Sirius skin and its working quite well Hermione notices. Sirius takes a step towards the professor and raises his wand. Snape is just as fast. The two men stare at each other with raised wands. Meanwhile, the pink haired girl stands up and dusts herself off.

"Boys, that is enough. I tripped and caused the noise. My bad" she says. Turning to look at Snape then to Sirius both with wands up and her standing right between them. "Oh, will you put your wands down. I'm completely harmless". Looking around Sirius, she notices Hermione.

"Wotcher names Tonks, and who might you be?" The girl named Tonks asks her with a small frown. Hermione was about to respond when more people enter the hallway behind Snape. Amongst those very ginger headed mother hen, namely Mrs Weasley. As more people come between the two men crowding the entrance, Hermione feels very caught. Mrs Weasley notices Hermione and quickly pushes herself past Tonks standing in front of Sirius who still is standing protectively in front of Hermione. Frowning at Sirius for a second, she turns to Hermione giving a motherly smile.

"Hermione dear, what a surprise. What are you doing here child?" She asks with a frown.

'Child, pfft really?'

"Um..." Hermione starts when Sirius cuts her off.

"Visiting of course, why else?" He said staring at the mother hen, expression kind of like he is daring her to argue.

"Visiting? I had no idea. How did you get here?"

"Um..." Hermione starts again before getting cut off.

"No matter you are here now child. Come let's get you something to eat" Mrs Weasley says and grabs Hermione's wrist pulling here through the crowd that all seem to be looking at her. Hermione as a last resort throws Sirius a look of a pleading 'save me'. He sends her back an apologetic look, and she loses his sight as she ushered into a large dining area/kitchen.

IIIIIIII

The crowd follows Hermione with their eyes when ushered away from Sirius, when pushed into the kitchen the entire crowd faces Sirius with many frowns and stern looks, apart from Snape that seems to be enjoying the circumstance and leans back smirking. Sirius feeling very much in the limelight smiles a flirtatious and very innocent smile knowing that even though it would not help much, it was better than nothing.

"Sirius where have you been and why are you returning with the girl?" A stern Kingsley asked.

Knowing there was no point in lying about not being away Sirius spoke. "Went out for a stroll, don't worry kept away from others." He said and avoided the second question hoping it would not come up.

"A stroll?! Are you crazy, boy? You know you can't leave or have you forgotten that you are a wanted criminal with posters decorating both the muggle world and wizarding world" Moody now spoke, his magical eye twirling around.

"I have not forgotten, hence as I stated I kept myself away from people. I don't need to hear this." Sirius responded.

Moody was about to argue back, but Kingsley held up his hand to say stop. "And what about the girl?" He asked — all avoidance of THAT flying out the window.

Hesitating for just a moment, Sirius pulled himself together hoping the lie would not be detected "Ran into her, saw her from a distance and recognised her. Hardly safe for a young muggle-born witch to wander about London these days. Thought she would be safer here. What about it Kingsley?" he asked, "Don't you agree?".

Kingsley frowned but seemed to accept the lie. Knowing he could not possibly disagree. "of course, I agree with you, Sirius," he said, "that is not the point".

"Then what is the point?" Said Sirius as a dare for Kingsley to question his motive.

Kingsley looked angry and annoyed about being put on the spot "The point being you shouldn't have been out in the first place," he said sternly. "This is not the end, know that Black. No more sneaking out don't you realise you are putting everyone in danger?!"

'I'm putting everyone in danger? In what possible way...' He thought.

It seemed like Kingsley could read his thoughts he just said "Harry, Sirius, your godson, who needs you".

Sirius just stared at him not knowing what to say it was true, and he did not want to lose Harry before getting to know him more, he had to be there for the boy.

"Sirius how do you think he would deal with you caught just because you wanted to take a stroll?" he said mockingly. Sirius sighed and looked at his feet. He knew he could not argue it was all too true and he did feel some remorse. Still, Hermione had been out there, alone and unprotected, knowing how much she meant to Harry he had something to counter. Turning his eyes back up to Kingsley he said

"And what about Hermione? You do know how much she means to Harry, yet she was out there, a young witch not even allowed to do magic, completely unprotected. Why have you done nothing to protect her?".

Kingsley looked caught but quickly countered "there have been no threats against her, no signs at all. The Dark Lord is keeping himself hidden, and you know that."

"Yes, hiding like a coward, I have noticed, the Prophet does find its way here, and if you haven't noticed there is usually a lot of people here reminding me" he responded. "He is keeping himself away from the public, but in the dark Death Eaters are very much active, and the could easily come across her... just like I did. I don't even want to think about what would happen to her then."

Kingsley avoided his stern gaze knowing there was truth into what Sirius had just said.

"Hermione? Sirius" Snape asked "you just happened to come across her? Is that it? And since when is she Hermione to you?"

"Since she saved my life" Sirius counters and the smirk on Snape's face disappears. "If there is nothing else I'm going to go grabbing something to eat."

Before he could leave Kingsley spoke, "there is a meeting tomorrow, considering you missed the last one and missed that we announced another for tomorrow."

'He just had to go there' Sirius thought "fine," he said and went into the kitchen.

IIIIIIII

Upon entering the kitchen, he sees Hermione with a frustrated and annoyed look, picking at the mountain of food in front of her. Albus Dumbledore is sitting with the normal twinkle in his eyes. He seems to have interrupted Mrs Weasley as the woman turns to Sirius with a stern look and frowns.

He and Mrs Weasley did not get along; he finds her annoying due to her insisted mothering and she very much dislikes all about his character. She has multiple times questioned him about how he is reckless and unfit to be around any of her children. He has been royally pissed off with her numerous times, often due to her indicating he is not good enough for Harry. Did she not have enough children? Did she have to try and claim his only godchild? He promised James and Lily he would look out for him, he failed and got himself locked away. Now he got a second chance and damned all if he were to screw this up too. No way in hell! No one was to stop him from being with Harry, neither Dumbledore or Molly Weasley.

Hermione looked up at him with pleading eyes; it was too cute he couldn't stop the little twitch at the corner of the mouth. Surveying around he sees Remus sitting right beside Hermione; his best mate bore his eyes into Sirius which sent a shiver down his spine. Remus' eyes had a hint of gold in them, and he looked angry, no furious. Being only two days away from the full moon, he knew Remus' senses heightened.

Suddenly a very dark and scary thought entered his mind, and he froze, the hair on the back of his neck rising. 'The look he sends me seems to see straight through me. Oh, fuck! What has he sensed? Oh, fuck oh FUCK!' He screamed in his head while just trying to act as casual and innocent as possible.

"Sirius, my boy" Albus said.

"Dumbledore."

"Now, we both know you should not have left. I hate to see us having taken precautions to prevent that" Albus continued.

'Was that a threat?'

"That won't be necessary Dumbledore," Sirius said. Albus seemed to take a long time just looking at Sirius, seemingly evaluating him.

"Hmm very well. Such an odd thing that you were to stumble across Miss Granger." Albus turned his eyes towards her "I was not aware you lived close by" Hermione didn't respond, and Albus turned to look at Sirius, again seeming to contemplate something. "No matter, I was going to invite Miss Granger here, but now it seems I don't have too." He finished and rose from the chair. "I will now leave, got errands to attend. Take care".

"Hermione dear, are you sure you wish to stay here? You are welcome at the Burrow; I'm sure Ginny and Ron would be delighted" Mrs Weasley said.

"Thanks, Mrs Weasley, but I'm sure."

"Call me Molly dear. Oh well, I better be off, feel free to floo us if you change your mind."

"Thanks, I will" they exchange a brief hug and Molly flooed home.

Silence once again fills the kitchen and Hermione and Sirius exchange a look. A low growl comes from Remus.

"Sirius," he said and rose. "A word if you will?" Sirius looked at him and gulped. Remus headed towards the doorway. "Library"

He wanted to speak to Hermione about what had happened in his absence, so he tried to linger, but Remus stayed put in the doorway. "Now please." Having no option left he followed out the door, upstairs and into the library.

IIIIIIII


R & R.

A/N: Hermione was very mature, she handled it well, she is good at thinking of others above her own. Let's hope it lasts. Comic relief, I don't think I can write without some form of comic relief. I love bad jokes. Sirius shouldn't be the one to voice them, however, but give him some slack; he is hungover. I am very insecure about this chapter, a lot of things going on but it just had fixed itself, things just had to happen.