DISCLAIMED: (01/17/09)

Fandoms: Harry Potter, Final Fantasy X(10 Years before initial storyline)

Pairings: Hermione/Sirius, possibly Rikku/Auron

Rating: Mature (Eventually)

Summary: A twist on the Hermione as an Unspeakable and retrieving Sirius from the Veil. Nothing is what it's meant to be. This'll change all that. Crossover with the Final Fantasy X world, Lord Braska's period. WILL contain Rikku

Short one this time. Auron and Sirius have a little talk. As do Hermione and Sirius.


-Chapter 七-

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Sirius was a in a foul mood. Jecht, as far as he was concerned, was a lecher, staring at Hermione's ass whenever he could. And Braska was worse, his kind-hearted nature drawing her in like a moth to a flame. He knew she was beautiful and desirable. Her grasp of combat and magic alone made her interesting.

He knew he had no real claim on her, but that never stopped him from taking what he wanted before. However, she wished to leave, return to a world where he had no place anymore. His life was here. And he had no wish to dally with someone who may or may not have been important to him in his other life. She seemed to be important to Harry and that was enough to stop any nefarious plans he could have for her.

The thought to try and convince her to stay never entered his thoughts. However, he couldn't rid himself of his jealousy as he watched her laugh and talk with Braska.

Thankfully, Auron was there to distract him. The suspicious monk walked beside him behind the others, his gruff presence calming.

"You are familiar," Auron spoke.

Sirius glanced to the side, an eyebrow raised. Auron stared straight ahead, however.

"Am I?" Sirius spoke lightly.

"Your picture," he said. "It is posted in Bevelle."

"Is it now."

"Under a wanted sign."

Auron then fixed him with a hard stare. Sirius returned it with a supremely unconcerned look of his own.

"How much?"

Auron frowned. "What?"

"How much for my capture?"

"…50,000 gil."

Sirius blinked, looking unimpressed. "Well, it has gone up."

"You hope to clear your name with this pilgrimage?"

"I already told you why."

"You knew Braska wasn't the most liked Summoner and thought he'd be an easy target—"

"Think what you wish." Sirius rolled his eyes to look at him. "Braska seems happy enough. Why can't you be?"

Auron glared. "Braska is too kind-hearted at times. He only sees the good in people, never the bad."

"Ah, and you think I'm bad news? Because a bunch of geezers who believe machines are the reason for Sin decreed one shouldn't be free to live their life as they please? The same ones who look down on your Lord Braska's marriage to an Al Bhed woman? These are the ones you wish to live your life by?" Sirius gave a derisive snort. "They are the criminals, not I."

"A pretty speech by a con-artist."

Sirius lifted a brow. "What exactly have you heard about me?"

Auron glanced at him. "You go by the name Black. You use women as you do dish-rags. You kill a man for breathing in your direction and no sacred place is safe from your greedy paws."

Sirius barked out a laugh. "You have been running in the wrong circles, my friend."

"You deny it?"

Sirius rolled his head, conceding a nod. "I suppose some of it's true. I'm a little bit more selective about my women – I actually prefer them not to be dish-rags – and aye, I would kill a man, if his breath stank enough and he was rude enough to breathe on me. I do go by the name Black and yes, downed ships and machina do not hold any spiritual value to me."

Auron took this with a sigh. "I would ask if anything is sacred to you, but I doubt it would get me anywhere."

"Many things, actually," Sirius conceded. "My family, friends, home." His expression suddenly became serious. "I always protect what is mine."

Auron inclined his head. "As do I."

Sirius nodded his head as they came to an understanding. Auron's gaze moved to the only female of the group.

"What is your attachment if you two are not married?"

Sirius glanced from to Hermione. "Honestly, I'm not sure."

Auron frowned.

Sirius chuckled. "She fell from the sky, much the same as I did ten years ago."

Auron's eyebrows lifted. "Fell from the sky?"

Sirius nodded. At Auron's doubtful look, he laughed. "I know it sounds farfetched and believe me, I usually keep it to myself. However, since we are sharing... Or rather I...am sharing."

Auron gave him an assessing look before conceding, "It was about ten years ago that your…exploits started to reach the temple."

Sirius gave him a considering look, noting he did not offer anything about himself before bobbing his head. "So, though I can't remember her, Hermione claims to know all my past acquaintances from my world."

Auron's brow furrowed. "You don't remember her?"

Sirius shook his head. "I can remember everything up to two years before I arrived here, but nothing after that."

"And she will not tell you who she is?"

Sirius stared ahead, his eyes fixed on the woman in question.

"She wants me to remember her in my own time."

His tone took on a thoughtful quality, so Auron left him alone, processing what he'd learned about the newcomers. Jecht too claimed to be from somewhere else, though only a different time. It was odd that there were so many of them all the sudden. The most likely reason was Sin's toxins. Something made him discount that however. He'd simply keep an eye on the two. Auron inwardly sighed. Not like he didn't already have to watch Jecht. This was going to be a long trip.


"How are you?"

Sirius looked up from his contemplation of the fire. Hermione moved to sit next to him on the log. It was their second night and they hadn't managed to make it to an inn or town, so they were roughing it.

"Rather well, under the circumstances."

Hermione cocked an interested brow.

Sirius smiled to show it was nothing serious. "Jecht," he said, nodding to the gruff Blitzball player across the camp, training with a frustrated Auron. "Don't know whether to buy him a whiskey or clock him over the head with his own sword."

Hermione twisted her lips, trying not to smile. "He is rather trying, isn't he?"

Sirius snorted. "Like a boy trapped in a man's body."

Hermione nudged his shoulder with hers. "You used to be like that once too, you know."

Sirius blinked, suddenly looking at her interested. "I was?"

Hermione smiled and nodded. "Oh, aye. Drove Molly batty. Harry sometimes acted more mature than you."

Sirius frowned. "Molly?"

Hermione cocked her head. "Weasley?"

"Oh," Sirius said, "Right. I recall her brothers were in the Order, right?"

Hermione nodded.

"So even after Azkaban, I was a ne'er do well, ay?"

Hermione nodded, her eyes going downcast. Sirius noticed, cocking his head at her. "What is it?"

She twisted her lips, biting the bottom one slightly. "I just wish . . ." She turned large eyes on him, making it impossible to look away even if he wished to. "Of all things that you lost in your past life . . . that it'd be your time in that place."

Staring into her caramel-colored eyes, Sirius became overwhelmed with the need to know who she was. "How do I know you?" he murmured.

Hermione shook her head. "You didn't." Looking away, she added, "I was merely a bookworm. Hardly worth noticing."

"I highly doubt that. Hey," he said softly, grabbing her chin and turning her back to him. Her eyes were sad and vulnerable. He suddenly realized how hard it was being here for her. Being here and not being remembered. "You are very memorable," he told her. "The only reason I can think of for me not knowing you is that the longer you are here, the more you forget of your past life."

Hermione frowned. "You mean, if we stay here long enough, we won't remember anything of the Wizarding world?"

Sirius nodded. "Quite possibly."

Hermione looked away. Staring into the fire, she thought about how she'd feel if she didn't remember Harry or Ron. They were her whole life for so long, she couldn't imagine it. Hogwarts. It had been as much her home as the library was. She'd give anything to have a Pensieve at the moment to preserve her memories before they could get away.

He shifted next to her then, catching her attention. She turned to see him pull something from his pocket. It appeared to be a small carved wooden figurine. He stared at it a moment, holding it out before him, before sighing and holding it out to her. Taking it, her lips parted in surprise. On closer inspection, she realized it was a perfect likeness of Harry, as he was at age thirteen. The year they saved Sirius from the Dementors. The detail was stunning. Hermione felt her lip tremble. She hadn't realized how much she'd missed Harry until that moment.

"Turns out I'm good with my hands," Sirius spoke, his voice soft not wanting to startle her from her reverie. "I have others. You can have that if you like."

Eyes shining, Hermione turned them on him. He met them evenly.

"Thank you." She sniffed, before turning away, wiping her eyes.

"Hey."

Hermione blinked as Sirius jostled her.

"Come on, let's train a bit. Show you how to use your new weapon properly," he said with an understanding grin.

She understood what he was doing. He was trying to distract her and it was working. She hated how inadequate she felt holding the beautiful weapon.

So when he stood, she allowed him to help her up and lead her to the opposite side of the clearing away from Auron and Jecht. Braska opened his eyes from where he'd been meditating across the fire, a small smile tracing his lips.


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A/N: Shorter than usual. Sorry bout that but there was simply no other way to split it. Do review - I will have crippling self-doubt if you do not, if only to say you are still interested;P

Next Chapter: Sirius pisses Hermione off;)