For Sam :)


Two For The Price Of One


Hermione stood in front of the dais, blood streaking down her hand and over her wrist as she studied the book, her lips wrapping around words she had never heard before.

She quickly snapped the book shut and stepped forward, planning to make the last sacrifice that the veil required. A lot of research went into this, and this was the moment they would find out whether it was all in vain. Remus moved forward, scared that she'd fall into the veil, but Hermione couldn't hear the voices in the veil as Harry could. The veil didn't call to her and she felt safe being so close.

She carefully reached for the side of the arch and ran her hand down it, allowing the blood to coat it.

Hermione felt a stinging pain in her hand and felt Remus' arms pulling at her, moving her away from the arch.

They waited.

...oOo...

After a long moment, a dark haired man tumbled to the floor, black hair covering his face as he pushed himself up on his hands. Remus let go of Hermione, rushing forward. "Sirius?" he asked, pulling the man to his feet. His shock was evident as the man slowly looked around, brushing the hair away. "Wrong brother," the man croaked. "What's going on? Who are you?"

Suddenly there were two. "Hold on," Remus replied, rushing to the second man, falling to the floor. "We'll explain once we're home." He looked at Hermione in confusion. "I thought it was just Sirius that would come back?"

"The book says..." she trailed off as she flicked through the pages. "It says that the price should bring someone back through to our side. That's just one person, not that I'm complaining, is this Sirius' brother?" She looked up from the book to where Remus was helping a very confused Sirius up.

"Moony?" Sirius croaked, throwing his arms around Remus.

"Well, it looks like it was two for the price of one today," Remus joked. "Or your blood is very valuable."

"I'll tell that to the next person who makes a snide remark about my blood status," she said. "I'm going to get Harry, he'll want to see Sirius." Her gaze moved to Regulus who was looking around calmly, trying to assess the situation.

"What's my brother doing here?" Sirius asked, finally catching sight of Regulus and rushing over to him.

...oOo...

A few hours later, the four of them were in Grimmauld Place. Regulus Black had taken the news that the war was over exceedingly well. Hermione noticed that the younger Black brother seemed reluctant to talk about his time in the war, and uncomfortable at the mention of his role in bringing down Voldemort by switching the locket.

"So, Hermione," Regulus said, when she tried to ask about how he ended up in the veil. "How old are you?"

"Oh, I'm nineteen," she replied. "So, you drank the -"

He smirked at her. "I have nothing against older women," he interrupted.

"Oi, you're only a couple of years younger than me," Sirius said, frowning between his younger brother and Hermione.

"Actually, I was eighteen when I died, so that'd make me eighteen," Regulus said, before turning his attention back to Hermione. "Forgive me for being so forward, but are you seeing anybody?"

"I... no," Hermione said, looking shocked and forgetting about her questions.

"Well, we'll go to dinner tomorrow night," Regulus decided. "After all, who better to explain the changes in the world than the... what was it your friends called you?"

"The brightest witch of our time," Remus offered, a fond smile in Hermione's direction.

Regulus nodded. "Eight o'clock," he insisted, his eyebrows raising questioningly.

Hermione nodded her head. "That sounds fine."

"It's a date," he murmured, taking her hand and softly pressing his lips against it. "I'm going to retire to bed now, but I look forward to seeing you again."

"Me too," Hermione admitted, intrigued by the handsome wizard. "I live here, so I'm sure we'll see a lot of each other."

A slow grin crossed his face at her words. "I like the sound of that."


A new pairing for me. I hope I did them justice!

Review Please :)

Drabble Club: Locket

Quidditch Pitch: Suddenly There Were Two