A Paws in Time

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, as revolutionary an idea like that may seem to you. JKR owns the Potterverse.

Summary: During the "final battle" Hermione is hit with a curse and falls through the veil. Time Travel HGSB

Chapter 10: Agitation

The light pouring in from the open window awoke Hermione. A drowsy contentment refused to lift itself as she felt a warm body holding hers. She smiled as she remembered the events of last night – Sirius kissing her, him carrying her to bed and wrapping his arms around her, keeping her safe and warm as she drifted off to sleep.

Her smile widened as she felt Sirius stir behind her. "Good morning," she greeted, turning to face him and pressing her lips gently to his cheek.

"Hey!" Sirius whispered happily, smiling back at her. "Sleep well?" He asked, tightening his grip around her.

"Very," responded Hermione as she snuggled into his secure embrace.

Noting that the overly large vest top's strap had fallen, Sirius placed a kiss on her exposed shoulder as he said "As much as I would love to stay here with you, we've both got a class to be in less than an hour from now."

"Hmm," was Hermione's only noise as she inhaled the scent of Sirius. He smells…manly…right, she thought to herself, her smile broadening.

"Hermione, I can't get up if you don't get off me. And I don't think that I can make myself as handsome as I normally am with less than an hour to do so in, so really, for the sake of everyone who will see me today, you've got to get up!" Sirius said. Hermione giggled. She sat up, adjusting her top slightly, while Sirius brushed his lips against her neck and said "The whole population of Hogwarts thanks you."

"Cute," she muttered sarcastically. She glanced in a mirror on the wall and nearly screamed. Did she really look that bad this morning?

In the time that it took for Sirius to take a shower, Hermione had performed several charms to freshen herself up and got dressed. She was passing Sirius on her way to brush her teeth when he grabbed her waist and pulled her in for a long, deep kiss.

"Beautiful."

Hermione blushed. Minutes later when she emerged from the bathroom she saw Sirius reading a book on the history of the Ministry – research for their return home. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure, go ahead." Sirius replied, putting the book on the small desk in his living room.

"Well, if the veil sends you to a time and place that is important to you, why have you not tried just walking through it, again?" Hermione asked. Surely this was an obvious thing to do, so the idea must've crossed his mind at one point.

"Honestly, I was enjoying it here too much with the younger version of me and my friends to really appreciate how important the time I came from is to go back. They're all so innocent, carefree. No-one close to them is dead or passing information to the deadliest enemy any of them will face. I like that. If I'd gone through the veil I would've walked straight back out, still in this time."

"What if you were given an incentive?" Hermione asked, suggestively.

Sirius smiled and asked "Such as…?"

Hermione took a deep breath. "The only reason I have to stay back here is you. I miss Harry and Ron and I really want to see them again. I'd go through back to 1998. Would you follow me?"

Sirius didn't even hesitate to think about it. "Of course."

Glancing at the time, Hermione ran out of his rooms yelling "Class!"

I've got to concentrate on this book. It's important. But Sirius looks so damn sexy: the way his hair falls into his eyes, the glint in his eyes when he gets really animated about what he says, the stupid grin he has in his face, Hermione thought, not realising her book was upside-down.

Time dragged on as Sirius continued his lecture and Hermione continued zoning out and daydreaming. The students enjoyed the enthusiasm with which Sirius discussed Lethifolds. Many students were eager to learn the Patronus charm despite its difficulty and the assurances that not everyone would be able to perform it effectively enough to dispel the beast.

Finally the bell rang signalling the end of the class. Most students filed out of the class with no more than a small smile at Sirius and Hermione. Remus Lupin, on the other hand, walked straight up to where Hermione was sitting with a large smile plastered on his face.

"I came to your room last night. Well, this morning, really. Your portrait said you weren't there, that you'd left. Where could you have been at two in the morning?" He asked sarcastically. Hermione blushed. It was all the confirmation Remus needed. "Hermione and Sirius sitting in a tr…"

"What?!" Sirius yelled.

"Oh…you don't know…Remus worked out that you're you. I mean that Polaris is Sirius Black, and that we're from the future."

"Oh…" Sirius said, lost for words.

"Anyway, I meant to ask you. What am I like in the future? Am I doing well or has my…condition got the better of my career?"

"I don't know if I should tell you." Hermione answered.

"I get it, it could change the future etc, etc. Have you thought of a way to get back? I assume that's what you were trying to research this lesson." Remus asked with a sly grin directed at Hermione.

"It is and, yes, I have a plan." Hermione answered, remembering her earlier conversation with Sirius.

"You care to elaborate?" Remus asked, eager to gain any knowledge on such an interesting topic as time-travel.

"I can't – it hints as to what…"

"What will happen in the future. I get it." Remus still looked a little disappointed though.

As Remus left, Sirius wrapped his arms around Hermione and said "we should talk to Dumbledore about this."

"Yeah, we should."

A/N There you go! Didn't I say I'd add 2 chapters! Tell me what you think, I love reading your reviews, they make me feel so warm inside! Thanks as always to my fantabulous beta Coolkitten12, she's been great. Remember: REVIEW!! Lul, J xxx