Waking up in St. Mungo's was the single most confusing moment of Sirius's life. Second only to having Harry and Hermione walk into his room when he was finally allowed visitors. He knew, thanks to the healers caring for him, that 6 years had passed since he fell into the veil. And yet mentally he couldn't help but envisioned his godson and his best friends as their 15 and 16 year old selves, sneaking around his house trying to listen in on the Orders meetings with the twins. He had had to work to control the shock when the pair walked into the room. Harry looked just like James did before his death and paired with Lily's eye's he felt his heart break. Hermione was equally as shocking. Gone was the bushy haired, bucked tooth girl he'd first met and in her place was a woman with subtle curves, heavy chestnut waves running down her back, whiskey eyes and soft face marred with a concerned look. Since that day he had not been able to get the studious witch out his mind.

Not that he didn't try. But despite everything, every time he saw her curled in a chair reading or laughing or playing with Teddy his heart would skip a beat. After the first few months of trying to smother it with no reprieve, he resolved instead to refrain from acting on any feelings that may continue to surface.

Hearing that the youngest Weasley boy had cheated on her filled him with rage. You don't do that to your friend, was the first thing that entered his mind followed closely by utter disbelief on how the boy could do that to a witch like Hermione. When Harry told him that he was worried about her and mentioned she had yet to find the time to go looking for flats, he didn't hesitate to ask Harry if he thought she might accept an invite to stay at Grimmuald place in her old room. Harry brightened immediately at the suggestion so Sirius decided to go ahead with the idea.

Their playful banter the morning after her first night in his house lit a fire in his breast. Her promise to save him a dance was his entire reason for going to the gala. He arrived late, hoping to avoid the ceremony because it just didn't feel right attend it when he all but skipped the second war only to wake up years after it was over. Unfortunately he misjudged his arrival and ended up arriving right as Kingsley asked for everyone to please take their seats. Making his way to his table he pace faltered at the sight of her being escorted off the dance floor with Charlie Weasley. Seeing the way her dress clung to her figure with her hair pulled away from her face, pinned just below the nape of her neck, she was stunning. Sheer perfection. As Charlie steered her towards her table his heart stopped completely seeing the back of her dress and the hemline dipping all the way down stopping just before the curve of her back ended. A delicate chain swinging along with her movements. He forced himself to tear his gaze from her and finish making his way to the table he was sharing with Remus, Tonks, and the rest of the Weasleys.

Being able to hold her and make her laugh made him feel as though he had no truer purpose. Letting her go at the end of the evening was one of the hardest things he'd ever forced himself to do. But he knew he had to. He was treading in dangerous waters and he needed to get as far from her as possible in that moment, only trusting himself to give her a caste kiss on the forehead he retreated up the stairs before he gave in to his desire to kiss her.

Waking up to her scream sent him flying from his bed and into her room before he knew what he was doing. Breathing for the first time when he saw her awake and safe in her bed. But watching the shame cross her beautiful face when she admitted that she had screamed made him want to growl knowing the youngest Weasley boy was most likely the reason for the shame she was feeling. Leaving her room to make her tea he amended his prior resolve to instead focus on helping her conquer her nightmares rather then be ashamed of them.

Sitting down at the table with her it felt so effortless. After watching Hermione make her way up the stairs Sirius closed his eyes, setting his book down and running his hands through his hair with a huff. He needed to talk to Remus. Getting up he followed up the stairs behind her and made his way to his room to prepare for the day ahead.


Pulling on her cream colored, rose printed cardigan, Hermione smiled at her reflection in the mirror. It was starting to surprise her just how much better she was feeling about herself now that she was no longer attached to Ron or felt the need to constantly mend their relationship. She truly didn't realize how hard it had been to be with him until she was without him. It felt liberating. Deciding to leave her hair down she grabbed her wand and conjured a hidden wand pocket in the lining of her cardigan before leaving her room. She could hear Sirius in his own room so she decided to wait for him in the sitting room. It wasn't much longer before she heard his heavy steps on the stairs and they made their way through the floo to the Burrow together. His arm on her elbow was the only thing that kept Hermione from stumbling out of the fireplace.

"You'd think the brightest witch of her age wouldn't have so much trouble using something as simple as a fireplace," he teased letting her go.

Dusting herself off she stuck her tongue out at him before making her way to the garden, listening to him laugh behind her. Hugging Molly as she came out of the house Sirius nodded to Arthur before heading over towards Remus. They spoke silently for a moment before standing and walking off together. Leaving her pseudo mothers embrace Hermione made her way over to the bench that had been elongated to allow everyone to sit comfortably together. Taking her seat across from Ginny she smiled at her best friend who was arguing with her husband in hushed tones. Looking to an equally amused George, she got only a shrug in response as she sat back and looked across the garden at her family.

Hearing the kitchen door open again the four of them glance over to see Tonks and Teddy emerge from the house. Setting him down with a quick wave to Molly and Arthur, Tonks make their way to the table with her son a few paces ahead of her.

"Aunt Mini!" Hearing the boys call, Hermione got up and crouched to the ground with her arms open, waiting for him to run into them. Scooping him up she began to smother his tiny face in kisses, stopping only when she heard Harry scoff, "What am I chopped liver?

"We all know that in Teddy's eyes none of us are as important as his Aunt Mini," Tonks chuckled at his disgruntled appearance.

Sending a mocking grin in Harry's direction Hermione put Teddy on her hip, "What about your Uncle Harry, Teddy? Didn't you miss him this week too?"

The young boy looked at his godfather with a tilt of his head before concentrating and morphing becoming a four year old replica of Harry, eyes turning green, hair becoming an unruly jet back.

"That's my boy!" Harry beamed, leaning across the table to give his godson a kiss on the forehead.

"Can we play Aunt Mini?"

"Of course little love, what do you want to play?"

"Hide and seek! You find me." Scrambling from her arms Teddy took off in a flurry leaving her to start counting before coming after him.

Sending another smirk at Harry she closed her eyes, spun a few times and started to count.


"Moony, where's Dora and Ted?"

"I came over a bit earlier to help Arthur with one of his projects, they should be here shortly."

"Do you mind walking with me?"

"Of course not." When the pair left the earshot of others in the garden Remus turned to his best friend, "Is this about Hermione?" Taking his silence as confirmation he waited.

Sirius huffed, "For months I have been trying to keep a handle on everything I'm feeling but I'm starting to have trouble. Having her back at Grimmuald has only intensified it. I need you to talk some sense into me."

Remus considered his best mate for a moment before shrugging. "Do you think last night was the first time I notice you pining after her Pads?"

"I do not pine," Sirius rebutted conjuring a bench for them near the edge of the pond.

"I started to notice it about a month after you were released from Mongo's. Dora shortly after that."

"Bloody hell..." he grumbled sitting down letting his hands fall into his lap.

"My only question is why are you trying to so hard to fight it?" Seeing Sirius' head snap up in shock he continued with a chuckle, "Honestly, if you'd come to me before last night I'd have given you exactly what you seem to be looking for but last night, Pads, you were happy. Genuinely happy for the first time in ages. Not only that but you seemed to make Hermione happy. She was glowing under your affections. Don't think it went unnoticed that you were the only one who could get her to rejoin us after the Lavender incident." Patting his best friend on the back he stood and straightened his jumper, "You are going to have to look elsewhere if you want someone to talk you out of this my friend." With that he made his way to his wife, leaving Sirius to his his own devices.

Contemplating his friends words he looked back to the garden, eyes immidiately training on Hermione who seemed to be searching for something. Watching her disappear behind the shed he heard a delighted shriek and smiled immediately knowing she had found who she was looking for. When she came around the shed once more she was holding a squirming Teddy in her arms. The pure joy on her face as she tickled the boy made his heart swell.

Grumbling to himself once more he got up and makes his way to the table just as Molly announces lunch was ready.