May 5th, 1979 - Hoia Baciu Forest, Romania - 03:00
Hermione felt the weight of Bellatrix pin her against the wooden floor of the Malfoy Manor library. The older witch used it to her advantage, easily controlling the screaming girl as she carved into her arm using the blade given to her by her beloved master. "Filthy little Mudblood," she snarled, the gray rotten teeth visible as her lips pulled back in a sneer. "How did you get into my vault?"
Hermione could only scream in response as the sharp blade dragged against her skin. She could feel the trickle of blood roll off down her arm and pool on the floor. The wound burned, much more than a cut should. It felt as if her arm was on fire, burning to the bone with each new slice of her skin. "We didn't! It came to us." Her head turned away from Bellatrix when the dark witch lowered her face inches from Hermione's.
Rancid breath washed over Hermione's cheek as she screamed, "LIAR!" Bellatrix pressed the blade harder against the skin on Hermione's forearm, relishing the pain it caused the girl. A wicked laugh began to leave her as she watched Hermione's cries grow louder, body trembling as the pain became too much.
"Hermione!" She felt hands on her shoulders shaking her as she fought against the dead witch in her dreams. Her hands went out, fist hitting the figure before her as she screamed, fighting against the darkened figure that was grabbing her. As her body thrashed to break free from the hold her screams filled the tent. Her throat was raw, and felt as if she had just swallowed Fiendfyre. Gasping for breath, she desperately pushed the body of whom she assumed was Bellatrix.
"Hermione! Hermione wake up!" Sirius didn't flinch against the fight, taking the punches and scratches as he tried to wake the screaming witch. Gray eyes brimmed with concern as he watched her face contort in pain. When her eyes snapped open, he visibly relaxed, letting the tension that wound around him like a thick cord loosen its hold.
It took several seconds for her to register the person above her wasn't Bellatrix, but rather Sirius. Instead of the cold, cruel gray of Bellatrix's eyes she saw the warm glow of Sirius's. They were like smoke as it rose from a smoldering campfire, and the same shade a stormy sky on the cusp of turning thunderous. They stole her breath away immediately.
As her breath hitched in her throat, Sirius brought his hand up to her cheek, letting his thumb stroke the tear-kissed skin in a slow drawl. "Are you okay, Little bird?" his voice was barely a whisper, as if too afraid to speak any louder because it might frighten her.
A shaky breath was let out as tears slowly spilled down her cheeks. She wasn't okay. She was twenty years in the past, longing to be with a man she shouldn't and afraid this would be all for nothing. The idea of returning home was not any better than being with him though, as back in 1999 she had no one. Sure Harry and Ginny were always there, but she lacked anyone to come home to. No Ron, no parents. Hermione felt entirely alone.
"I'm s-s-sorry," she stammered out, body still trembling in the aftershocks of her nightmare. Her eyes closed, letting more tears slide down her reddened cheeks as she bit her bottom lip, trying to calm herself down. If she any dignity left after this, she would be surprised.
Sirius did not ask, instead he let his body slide into the bed next to her, tucking himself over the thick comforter. His arms slowly embraced the curly haired witch, drawing her close to his chest. "Sorry? Hermione, you don't have to apologize."
She stiffened in his arms, not wanting to give in to his embrace, fearing he would think her weak. It wasn't until she felt his lips press soft kisses on the crown of her head that she allowed herself to break. Hands slipped up from the mattress to fist in his sweater, burying her face in the soft weft of the cotton. Her body trembled as she cried, letting out the pent-up frustration and sorrow she had felt for so long.
When she had Obliviated her parents, she did not allow herself time to properly mourn their loss. They had been in the midst of a war that was not intended for children. Thrust into the chaos and destruction, she had to remain strong for Harry and Ron. When it had ended, she helped rebuild her friends. She allowed Ron to use her strength to cope with the loss of his own family member, and she took the burden of being his rock without question. Perhaps this was why their break up was so difficult. She had helped him heal his wounds, but she did not receive the same in return.
The days following the Battle of Hogwarts and Voldemort's defeat quickly turned into months, and her focus shifted from her friends to her work. She dedicated hours of her time to becoming the best Auror the Department of Magical Law Enforcement had ever seen, often times falling asleep on the couch in the breakroom, choosing to appear like a workaholic instead of facing the empty apartment at the end of the day.
She had forgotten what it felt like to feel vulnerable until this moment. As her body quaked with each cry, Sirius held her tighter, allowing her to use him as her anchor. His right hand rose to the back of her head, stroking her curls down her neck as his left arm curled around her slender frame, his hand splayed out against her lower back. "It's okay, Little bird. I'm right here." His mouth was near her ear, whispering softly to her, trying to heal the wound that had so clearly beep ripped open in her dream.
"Don't l-leave." Her voice trembled as her head tipped up from his chest, brown eyes pleading him as their gazes connected.
She could have asked him to kiss a Chinese Fireball square on the snout and he would not have hesitated. Those big brown eyes could convince him to do anything, especially if she looked at him as she did now. Letting out a soft breath that had been held in his throat, he nodded. Leaning down, his forehead pressed against hers gently, his hand moved from the back of her head to cup her jawline. "Never." Leaning forward just slightly, he let the tip of his nose slide against hers as his eyes fluttered closed at their contact.
The wetness from her cheek transferred to his as she leaned up into him, her parted lips brushing against his in a soft promise of a kiss. Sirius's tongue went out, running across his bottom lip to collect the salty tears that transferred to him during their affections. As his thumb ran the length of her delicate jaw, his mouth pressed sweetly against hers.
Sirius's kiss was not as demanding as their first. Instead, he greedily accepted whatever she would give to him in this moment, not wanting to push the broken witch into anything, letting her guide their exploration. He couldn't help but let out a soft groan as her hand slipped up from his chest to slide into the hair on the side of head. The feeling of her nails against his scalp caused goosebumps to rise along the back of his neck in pleasure.
She had longed to run her fingers through his hair since their first mission. Just as she had assumed, it was incredibly soft, almost silken to the touch. Parting their kiss, she brushed her nose against his before tipping her head down just enough to allow his lips to connect with her forehead as she collected her breath. Her hand slipped from his hair to rest against the junction between his neck and shoulder, feeling his pulse beat underneath his skin.
Sirius returned his arms around the small witch, pressing their bodies together in an impossibly close embrace, his fingers curling into the flannel of her nightshirt. As his lips pressed soft kisses to her damp forehead his eyes closed, wishing he could reply that kiss forever. "Hermione," his lips brushed over the skin on her temple as he leaned down slightly, pressing soft kisses between his own pleas to her. "Don't run away this time."
Her heart ached. She knew how badly that morning in February felt for her, and she couldn't begin to fathom the uneasiness it caused him. Leaning forward her mouth was pressed against the skin just below his Adam's apple, the coarse hair of his stubble tickling her lips. "I won't."
Sirius let his cheek rub against hers, letting her curls cover his face as he nuzzled against the witch affectionately. The way their entwined bodies clung to one another in a desperate embrace was more than enough for both to know the feelings were mutual.
A heavy breath left her throat, which was still raw from her cries, as her head came to rest against his chest. Beneath her ear she could hear the soft rhythm of his heartbeat thump against his chest. Without resistance, she let the beating lull her to sleep as she remained securely curled up in his embrace.
Sirius waited until he felt the rise and fall of her chest even out in a steady pattern before he allowed himself to follow her into slumber. It was in moments before dreams overtook him that he silently vowed to do whatever he could to make sure this witch would never have to be alone again.
May 8th, 1979 - Hoia Baciu Forest, Romania - 16:00
The days following her nightmares were filled with Hermione pouring over her personal notebooks and spell books she had brought with her for the mission. Sirius would occasionally help, but grew frustrated of trying to decipher the text she allowed him to read. Half of the pile she wouldn't permit him to touch, saying something about he wouldn't know what to look for in them. He tried to explain he had received O's in nearly all of his N.E.W.T.S but she just brushed him off.
Determined to be at least somewhat helpful, he would visit the village under the cover of his Animagus form, hoping to overhear conversations about the wolf pack. He would leave early in the morning, but not before leaving a prepared lunch for Hermione, who he realized would not eat unless prompted while in the throes of her research. Returning late at night, he would have to physically shut her texts to get her to withdraw and go to sleep.
The chivalrous attempt to give her the bed while he slept on the couch did not continue past their first night in the tent. Instead the pair would curl up in each others' arms, not speaking of their arrangement, but instead letting the comfortable embrace overtake them each night. Sirius desperately wanted to push for more, but he wouldn't press his luck. She was like a wounded sparrow; if he made too fast a gesture she would attempt to fly away. For now he would have to be okay with the way she would nuzzle into the crook of his neck in her sleep as her hot breath washed over his skin like a warm blanket, and the way her scent reminded him of a fresh spring day, filled Wildflowers, and the unmistakable scent of honey.
Four days had passed before Hermione was confident she could perform the enchantment. They awoke early and readied themselves for their trek deep into the woods. Prior to leaving, both Hermione and Sirius reinforced their magical wards to make sure the camp would stay hidden in their absence. Her confidence on the ability of this spell was fading fast, although she would not let Sirius know about her doubts. Instead she pushed the feelings away and continued on through the trees.
"Are you fucking kidding me, Sirius?!" Hermione's voice pierced through the quiet of the forest as she looked down at her clothing, which was splattered with mud. A few feet in front of her a large, black shaggy dog stood in the middle of mud, the thick brown liquid covering almost every inch of fur.
If dogs could smile, Sirius would have perfected it. Thus far they had succeeded in crossing over 50 miles of forest since daybreak. They had found signs of pack encampments, but had yet to cross paths with beings in the forest, magical or Muggle.
Her eyes rolled as she shook her head, muttering under her breath how she should have brought a leash as she brushed her hands against her shirt, attempting to remove the mud from her clothing. Her patience with the pup was short, but it wasn't any better in his human form. At least as a dog she did not have to hear him complain about their walking.
Withdrawing the swatch of bloodstained carpet from her pocket, she touched the tip of her wand to it as she said, "Vestigium Sanguis." A teal smoke rolled from her wand to coil around the carpet. When the vapors connected with the blood they whirled into a deep purple before rising into the air and floating off in front of them, leaving a dotted trail in the air for a path to follow.
They had to be close, Hermione could sense it. In the beginning the path the spell weaved was erratic, zig-zagging them through the forest as if the person whose blood was split was running from them, but as the day grew longer their trail had straightened out.
Depositing the fabric back in her pocket, she moved forward, letting the purple vapor clouds crash into her body as she moved deeper into the spooky woods. Her wand remained withdrawn, the vinewood firm in her grasp; she was hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst. Werewolves were not known for their friendliness towards humans, especially ones who were looking for them.
Sirius had darted forward, letting his canine senses overtake his human rationale. Shaking her head as she watched him jump in mud puddles and under the roots of trees. When he disappeared just out of range, she felt an uneasiness creep across her skin. Someone was watching her. Brown eyes darted around her, attempting to catch whatever she felt preying upon her.
"Homenum Revelio."
With the flick of her wand, she heard a snap in the distance, followed by a quick "Ow!" Twenty feet to her left a pudgy man with light brown hair moved from behind a thick tree, hands rubbing his backside as he did.
Hermione turned toward him, though not allowing her feet to carry her any closer, her wand withdrawn and held in front of her instinctively. 'Gods Sirius, get your furry arse back here!' Gulping down the rising sense of trepidation, her voice called out to him, "Why are you hiding?"
Looking up from rubbing his backside, the man's green eyes widened in her direction and he paled. His body froze its movement as he stared open mouthed at Hermione, slowly processing that his position had been compromised. "Why'm I hidin'? Why are yooh wanderin' 'bout the woods? Di'nt nobody tell you these woods is haunted.?" He waved his hand front of him, fingers wiggling in a fanned patterned to make his point seem more mysterious.
His accent was decidedly not Romanian. She couldn't quite discern his nationality based on his cadence, but he spoke with a tone similar to her own, just slightly off. Her wand lowered to her hip, although firmly held in her grasp so if needed she could use it. "I'm not wandering. I'm looking for someone."
The pudgy man eyed her skeptically, his green eyes traveling to her wand before back up to her face. "Only people this far inta the woods 'ave a-lot more protection than jus' a wand."
Ah, so he wasn't Muggle, although she thought the possibility of running into one out here was slim anyways. "I have no plans to use it for protection." Her tongue darted out, running across her lips to wet them as a nervous habit. "Are you from the pack that has been visiting Întuneric Bârlog?"
A small laugh left the man as he shook his head, relaxing a bit at her words when he realized she posed no immediate threat to him. "Do I sound like I'm from 'ere?" Reaching out, his hand pressed into the bark on the tree closest to him as he leaned against it in a lazy pose.
"Suppose not. But then why are you out here?" In the distance, she could hear the happy barking of Sirius. It made her a little less nervous to know he was only a few yards away, but she would have felt a whole lot better had he decided to stay next to her like she had requested when they embarked on this mission.
"Me Mum sent me ta bring a real Roma woman home. Somefin' 'bout makin' new alliances with a marriage." Shrugging, the man nonchalantly brushed his shaggy hair from his eyes. "I t'ought I smell a pack bond when I was at camp. But you ain't no wolf." He let his eyes drag down her form, not hiding his appraisal of Hermione. "Too scrawny you is."
Hermione blushed, reaching up to adjust her jacket in discomfort. "I'm not a werewolf….but I am looking for one. If you're familiar with the pack from these woods, perhaps you can introduce us to them?"
"Us? I dun see no us." His lips pressed together in a skeptical line as he eyed Hermione until the echoing sound of the bark filled the air. His eyes closed and his nose was in the air, sniffing at the breeze as it washed over him. As his eyelids fluttered open, they revealed a deep gold color instead of green. "Who ya brought wif ya, little witch?"
"He's uh…a friend." Technically not a lie, right? Hermione glanced over her shoulder toward the direction the barking came from, and with each noise heard it sounded like Sirius was getting closer. "Sirius!" Her voice called out, head turning back to eye the werewolf before her who was beginning to inch towards her. "Sirius, come meet my new friend…" Her voice was loud, knowing that with his canine hearing he would be able to pick her up easily. She had allowed her voice to trail off, hoping he could fill in his name.
"Royston...mah friends call me Roy."
Hermione nodded, taking half a step back to provide more space between their bodies. "Hermione," she offered her own name in return, eyes nearly rolling as he wrinkled his nose at her in disbelief.
"Hermynee? And I t'ought my parents were daft," Roy muttered to himself.
The sound of someone clearing their throat came from over Hermione's left shoulder, and she whipped her head around to see Sirius ambling up beside her. The way he carried himself with such finesse got under her skin. How could he be so fucking calm knowing they were likely surrounded by a pack of werewolves in the middle of the forest two days away from the full moon?!
"Hello Roy, name's Sirius." Slipping past Hermione, he strolled casually up to other man, hand extended to him in a friendly gesture. Despite his outward appearance of calm, inside Sirius was a maelstrom. When shifted, he could smell traces of Moony in the air, but it was so faint, fading with each breeze that passed through the trees.
Roy's hand moved from where he had been propping it up against the tree, slipping into Sirius's to give a firm shake. As the breeze picked up again, Sirius's scent wafted to Roy, and his eye flashed to gold once more. "Yer here for him, aren't-cha?"
Sirius's hand stopped mid-shake, his friendly facade dropping. His fingers, curled around Roy's hand, tightened. "What was that?" his voice was a low growl already, his own animal rising inside of him. A member of his pack was in trouble, and Sirius was far more animal than man when it came to protecting his friends. This man knew where Remus was, having smelt the pack bond long before their presence was heard.
A low laugh was released from Roy, not backing down from the Animagus. "They knew yooh lot would come fer him. He sang like a canary once Fenrir got ta him, tolt 'im all 'bout yer littl' pack." His voice was dripping with maliciousness, using the rage Sirius was showing to dig under his skin. "On his way right now, he is. Fenrir's wanted ta meet ya. Sent me in to stop ya before ya stumbled into our camp. Little witch made dat easy." Roy's eyes darted to Hermione, tossing her a wink before withdrawing his hand from Sirius roughly. "Tremblin' in her boots, she was. I could smell the fear, sweet like wine."
Hermione's heart stuttered in her chest. This was a trap. Of course it was, how naive was she? Thinking they could sneak up on a pack in their own forest. Cursing herself under her breath, she moved forward quickly, wand drawn on Roy as she advanced, wrapping her hand around Sirius's biceps. "Sirius, we have to leave….now."
Sirius's body stayed rigid, watching Roy with fire in his eyes as teeth clenched. When Hermione's tugs got more forceful he turned to her, his own hand going out to grasp her roughly. "We are not leaving. Moony is in there and I'm getting him back."
Another cruel laugh filled the air, except this time, it wasn't from Roy. The lumbering form of Fenrir Greyback came out from behind a tree. His long duster hovering just centimeters from the ground, making his bulky form appear almost longer. "My, my. What do we have here Roy?" As he rounded around Roy, his hand gave his shoulder a small clasp in an almost thanks. "A little witch and her.." his voice trailed off before he took a deep breath in. "Mangy mutt."
Sirius's body lurched forward, and the only thing that prevented him from launching onto the man who appeared to be far more wolf than human was Hermione's hand that was still holding him back. "Where is he?!" He snarled toward Fenrir, gray eyes flashing with fury in the direction of the werewolf alpha.
"He? You mean that runt? Pathetic excuse for a wolf if you ask me. Old man Lupin must have done a real number on him to make him so weak," he spat towards Sirius, knowing his words would ignite rage in Remus's pack mate. "Left him in Germany with some friends. Real nice wizards. They promised me to take good care of him."
"If he's hurt, so help me Merlin, I will find you and-"
"And do what exactly? I'd be careful if I were you, wizard. Our kind do not take kindly to threats, even if they are empty."
Sirius's hand balled into a fist, his knuckles turning white from the strain as his jaw set. Hermione's hand rose to join the other on Sirius, tugging him back, away from Fenrir and Roy. "Sirius, stop it!" she hissed.
"I'd listen to your bitch, Sirius. Sounds like she might be the only one with half a brain."
"Excuse me?" It was Hermione's turn for anger. Pausing her retreat, her eyes narrowed at the Werewolf. She knew of his viciousness, but the memory seemed distant now as she stood in front of him. In her youth she might have taken the insult without complaint, but time and experience had changed her from the naive little girl she was the last time she saw him. "I am not property," she said through gritted teeth, her wand hand twitching slightly.
"No..you aren't, are you? You haven't been claimed by his pack….but I can tell you're not innocent either. Seems like you've gone into heat and let more than one have his fill." Gold eyes appraised Hermione, roving over the curves of her body. Before she could react to his lascivious comment, the sound of a spell whizzed past her ear. The white hot spell connected with his face, the force knocking him flat on his back. Hermione watched as his face began to swell in disfigurement. She would have recognized that jinx anywhere, as she had used it once before, casting it on Harry to attempt to hide his identity. A Stinging Jinx was effective at delaying your enemies, but certain did not stop them.
Hermione's eyes widened at the scene before her. As Fenrir lay in a haze on the earthen floor, she turned around quickly to face the direction the spell had come from. Sirius stood firm, his fingers curled so tightly around the ironwood wand his knuckles popped.
Her world seemed to be stuck in slow motion in the moment as she stared at Sirius, slack-jawed. The breeze that had been picking up throughout the day howled through the trees surrounding them. Her curls slipped across her cheeks in response as a shiver ran down her spine from the chill in the air.
Sirius's gray eyes stayed locked on the prone werewolf, watching as Royston dropped to help his Alpha. "Yer gonna regret that," the pudgey werewolf snapped, turning to look over to Sirius with eyes full of violence. Sirius began to laugh in response to the threat, tilting his head back just slightly to show his arrogance.
Hermione felt the spell as it whizzed past her ear, the heat radiating from the bright flash of red make her skin prickle in response. Having missed its target, the spell slammed into a tree before her, scouring into the bark with a deep burning slice.
She did not have time to even shout before Sirius pulled her body behind his. His left hand held Hermione protectively against his body as he exchanged fire with Royston, who in addition to being a werewolf, was also a wizard, much like his Alpha. The two sent a barrage of spells toward each other, neither wanting to back down and turn tail.
Hermione's mind kick-started like an old engine, roaring to life as the sound of an explosion from a particularly close blasting curse exploded a tree beside her. Lifting her wand in preparation, she ducked under Sirius's arm to cast a stunning spell in the direction of the werewolf. It connected with Royston, but just barely. He had been distracted by Sirius, deflecting a curse that was sent his way. When he noticed Hermione pop out from behind him, it was too late to avoid it entirely. As he dodged, the spell landed on the right side of his chest.
She did not wait for his body to hit the floor before her hand went out, pulling Sirius's wand away from his target sharply. Fenrir had began to rise, his own wand withdrawn in preparation for his assault. They could certainly take the two wizards in a duel, but she knew the noises from the spells would soon draw the rest of the pack that lay beyond Fenrir and Royston. "Sirius, RUN!" Pulling her with him, she turned quickly away from the werewolves as the sky began to crackle under the weight of rainclouds.
She moved quickly through the trees, ducking under heavy branches that hung low in their path. The sound of howling in the distance could be heard, causing the baby-fine hairs on the back of her neck to stand. "Sirius, do you have any fucking idea what you just did?"
Sirius dislodged his hand from hers, long stride overtaking hers quickly as he moved beside her. "What I did? I defended you." His gray eyes rolled, thinking her ungrateful for his attempt at chivalry. "You should be thanking me."
"Thank you?! For what? You attacked an Alpha, you fucking idiot!"
"I've danced with a werewolf plenty of times." His casual tone only seemed to set her off more. Did he not realize the repercussions of his actions? Remus was a juvenile werewolf in this timeline, not yet finished growing his skill or power. The tango for dominance that Sirius and Remus danced during the full moon at Hogwarts would not hold a candle to the power that Fenrir and a full wolf pack would possess.
Hermione reached out, pulling their running bodies to a halt abruptly. "This isn't one werewolf, it's a whole bloody pack!" she snapped, her finger jutting into his chest roughly as she backed him up against a tree. 'And though she be but little, she is fierce.' It was as if the famous words from the playwright who had provided her name were written for her in just this moment, as she advanced upon Sirius, backing him up against a tree in her fury "This isn't a joke, Sirius. They're going to be looking for us!"
"Then let them find us! We can take a few fucking wolves, Hermione!" Reaching out, his hand captured hers as her finger connected with his sternum. "Don't...fucking...do that!" he snarled the warning, gray eyes flashing to the witch in warning as the animal inside him began to take over.
Hermione's eyes narrowed, her hand being sharply withdrawn from his. The sky rippled with a flash that ignited the forest before the sound of thunder echoed around them. The sky's noise barely registered through her fury. It was as if she had fallen overboard in the waves of the storm the brewed behind his gray eyes. "Or what?" she challenged, heart beat pounding against her chest in a dangerous rhythm.
Sirius just shook his head at her, not backing down from her as he let out a low growl in the back of his throat. As the animalistic noises reached her ears, the embers low in her belly went aflame. This back and forth that had begun months ago was coming to a head, neither of them reasonable enough to surrender to the other. It was as if in that moment the heavens parted over them and raindrops began their descent to the forest floor. As their bodies stood toe to toe their clothes began to soak in the sudden downpour.
Hermione set her jaw, determined to ignore the way her core burned in response to the feral look Sirius was giving her. Reaching up, her hand connected with the center of his chest in a hard shove, causing his back to rub roughly against the tree behind him.
Hermione was fast, but Sirius was faster, having perfected his reflexes during his years of marauding through the Forbidden Forest during the full moons. His right hand wrapped tightly around her wrist as her hand landed on his chest, sweeping his leg out to cause her to buckle to the forest floor before him in the mud.
A soft cry left her as his fingers tightened around her wrist, his rough display of dominance causing her heartbeat to quicken. As her knees sank into the mud, Sirius leaned down, his face dangerously close to hers as he growled. The animal inside him wanted to show her the pack order, and in this particular case, her place was definitely underneath him.
Her tongue darted out, running across her bottom lip as she felt his hot breath through the cold rain clung to her skin. "Sirius, let me go." Her voice was flat, but her body was clearly showing signs of the electricity that was passing between them. Twisting her arm, she attempted to dislodge herself from his grip. When he wouldn't release, she pulled roughly against him. " .GO!"
About to respond to her request for release, Sirius paused as he heard the rustle of breaking tree branches in the distance. They were close. With a rough tug, he yanked Hermione off the wet ground and his other arm went around her waist. As she began to fight against his hold, his grip tightened. "Stop moving, witch." With a twist he latched her wrists behind her back in one of his hands. Like a caged animal she struggled against him, only pausing her movements when she heard a howl from a wolf just behind the treeline. Her body froze against Sirius, giving the wizard just enough time to Apparate them away.
