Chapter 14: Meeting the Weasleys
"She should have woken up by now." A familiar voice sounded close by.
"Give it time Sirius. She just over exerted herself." Another familiar voice tried reassuring the first person.
"It's been two days." The first voice seemed stressed.
"Alas, there is not much we can do but give her time to recover." A third person entered the argument.
Hermione didn't know where she was. Her mind was a foggy haze, fragments of memories floating around in her brain. A loud 'bang' and streaks or red and gold as darkness enveloped her. Was she dead? She tried opening her eyes but her eyelids felt far too heavy. She also felt like she should know the people those voices belonged to, but her brain just wouldn't work. Sleep beckoned to her welcomingly, and Hermione let it take her.
When she next awoke, she was able to open her eyes. It was dark and the curtains were drawn making her assume it was nighttime. Then she noticed the warmth beside her and looked over to see Sirius lying next to her, one arm wrapped protectively across her midriff. Smiling to herself, Hermione kissed his cheek gently, trying not to wake him up. He did shift uneasily, but didn't wake up. Even having been awake a few short minutes, she was still quite tired and fell back asleep, turning to face Sirius and placing her head on his shoulder.
Next morning, Hermione was awoken by a voice asking Sirius if he wanted breakfast in bed. Sirius declined politely and turned to look at the sweet woman in his arms. Instead of seeing her closed eyes as he had grown used to, he found himself staring into chocolate brown orbs.
"You're awake!" He exclaimed in surprise.
"She is?" James poked his head back in with a wide grin. "Thank goodness."
"You gave me such a fright." Sirius complained.
"What happened?" Hermione asked looking round bemusedly.
"You destroyed the ring with the erumpent material but when you tried to disapparate, Dumbledore was fighting you to get to the ring and you splinched yourself. His delay also meant you got caught in part of the explosion. You've been unconscious for three days."
"How bad was it?" She queried, suddenly picturing Ron with half of his upper arm scooped out.
"You had some bad burns on your arms and legs. You left an eyebrow and part of your right thigh behind." Sirius reported in a bland tone of voice. No more emotion than giving a weather report, but she knew how hard this had been on him.
The next few days past quickly. Dumbledore stopped by, offering profuse apologies for his behaviour and feeling extremely guilty that his actions had caused her injury. She was sure she had heard Sirius muttering about how he really should be sorry and how lucky he was that no permanent damage had been caused. Sirius had been really attentive to her, catering to her every whim but at the same time he seemed slightly distant. She could tell something was bothering him. Finally she had enough, she had left it a couple more days to give him time to tell her, but she had now decided to confront him.
"Sirius?" She started cautiously, on the Saturday evening, the day before they were going to meet the Weasleys.
"Yes, love?" He replied, looking over at her from the window he had been staring out of absent-mindedly.
"What's the matter? You've been rather distant lately?"
"Just thinking." He dodged.
"About?" She pressed, frowning slightly.
"You. You really should stop going on all these dangerous missions." Hermione froze. As she processed his words she stood up and glared at him.
"What makes you say that?" Was her reply, much calmer than she felt.
"That's twice you've had almost fatal injuries. What if the next time you go out, you aren't so lucky? Nobody has that much good luck 'Mione. Nobody is invincible and I don't want to lose you. Maybe it's time for others to take up the front line. You've done so much already."
"How can you even suggest such a thing Sirius Black? You'd rather someone else take the fall?"
"I love you. I have no idea what I would do if I lost you and it seems that every time you go out I get closer and closer to finding out." He retorted, voice getting sharper.
"Oh, so you'd feel so much better if James was out there taking all the risks?" She snapped back.
"So what if I would?"
"Either you don't care so much if you're best friend is the one who gets killed." At this, Sirius flinched horribly and started to interrupt.
"'Mione you know that's not…"
"OR!" She raised her voice, talking right over him. "You think that he can protect himself better than I can. Is that because you think I'm some helpless girl?" She spat.
"Of course I know you can protect yourself. But I'd rather you stopped getting into situations where you have to."
"This is war, Sirius. War! We aren't going to win by happily skipping round the fields picking daisies. We have to take risks and we have to fight. I can hardly do that sitting on the sidelines can I?"
"You've told us all you know. Let us take some chances." He begged.
"You went to the cave and I didn't throw a complete fit about it. Ok, I was worried about you, I always am but I didn't stop you going. It's not as if I'm running off in front of an Avada Kedavra, Black. I'm trying to destroy Voldemort."
"I know that. I'm not saying stop fighting completely, but you could at least take less risks. Going alone with Dumbledore when you knew it was going to mess with his head was stupid and dangerous. Duelling Bellatrix alone was beyond dangerous. You almost died both times."
"Sometimes there isn't a choice." She replied coolly. Then she stormed off down to the potions lab to calm down. She knew she was being slightly unreasonable and he was only being caring but it was smothering. She wondered if this was how Harry felt when everyone kept him out of everything even though it was his destiny to do something about it. SHe would have to apologise to Sirius for over reacting at some point, but for now she buried herself in the potion she had been trying to perfect. It was exactly the same colour as Harry had described it the only time he had seen it. Smoke was also coming off the cauldron as it had been described to her. Hermione beamed, argument forgotten. She had successfully brewed some Wolfsbane potion. They would have to send word to Remus.
Sirius stood, watching his girlfriend storming out with a stunned expression similar to someone who had recently been hit over the head with a saucepan. After a few seconds, James came in.
"Couldn't help overhearing." He gave a lopsided grin.
"Bet you could." Sirius snorted is slight amusement.
"Well, maybe, but that's not the point. You should have known that would set her off. She has spent almost her whole life getting into dangerous situations in name of war. If a basilisk, Dementors, Voldemort, Death Eaters, more Death Eaters, Bellatrix and countless other things can't kill her then I doubt a couple more missions are going to do much harm. I know she shouldn't be used to this, and I realise how unfair it is, but it's still true. She is not a child, Padfoot. You can't hide her away at home and expect her to let you go off to fight. You go out chasing bad guys almost every day as a job. You could get killed every day, you can't expect Hermione to be ok with that and then be ok with sitting at home doing nothing while you do."
"I know mate. I know. But I can hope can't I?" Sirius looked so utterly woebegone, James didn't have the heart to take the mickey.
"You can, but I wouldn't mention it unless you want your head bitten off. And for good reason." He grinned.
"Yeah. I think I learnt that lesson. It just feels like every time she is out of my sight, and out fighting, she comes back on death's door again."
"I understand. I worry to death about Lily and she mostly stays home. I would be doing a nut too if she was out and about but at the same time I would be incredibly proud."
"I am beyond proud. 'Mione has done so much, I just feel like she should have a little self preservation and let others do a little of the work." Sirius tried to justify his point, knowing that it was indeed pointless. "I'm not going to actually stop her. Just hope she takes a few less risks." As they talked there was a cry of joy from below. They both hurried down to see Hermione and Lily beaming in the front room.
"We must get word to Remus." Lily was saying joyfully.
"What did we miss?" James asked, moving over to hug his wife.
"Hermione has finished the Wolfsbane potion. We think it's ready for testing. If it works he should keep his mind during the transformation." Lily informed them with a grin. They both blinked in surprise.
"That's wonderful." James grinned.
"Well done 'Mione." Sirius said quietly. Silence spread over the room and tension rose between the two.
"We'll just leave you two to talk then." James excused himself and ushered Lily out of the room up to get Harry. Sirius and Hermione just looked at each other anxiously. A few moments passed but they felt like an eternity.
"I'm sorry." They blurted out at the same time.
"No. Let me." Hermione smiled nervously. "I didn't mean to bite your head off earlier. I do understand why you worry, and I worry about you too. I just can't stand to sit on the side and watch everyone I love take risks for me."
"I know, love. I'm not asking you to sit around here and never leave the house. I won't deny that part of me would love that but I have more faith in your abilities than that. I also know better for fear of my own safety." He tried to inject some humour and was relieved when she let out a bright laugh.
"I should think so too." She grinned.
"But you can't deny you have been a little reckless. I only ask that you accept a little more help from us. That's what we are here for. You came to us for our help in changing the future and we want to do our best."
"You've already done so much." Hermione murmured. He reached forwards and grasped both her hands in his.
"Yet not enough. The monster is not dead yet. He is still a threat to us, my best friends and my godson. This is our fight as much as yours 'Mione." His eyes were pleading with her to understand and accept his point of view. After a few moments she nodded.
"I promise to do my best not to take any unnecessary risks. As long as you promise not to overreact everytime something goes wrong. As much as we both may not like it, this is war. Injuries are going to happen. I will do my best to keep out of the way and stay safe but there are no guarantees. I don't want to end up having this argument every time I get hurt."
"I make no promises not to overreact when you're hurt. I love you and it hurts me when you're injured. But I won't rehash this argument every time and I will do my best to keep calm."
"That's all I ask." She said, moving forward into his arms. Sirius held her close to him, revelling in her warmth.
"Well that's our first fight as a couple out of the way." Sirius grinned slightly.
"Let's keep it as first and only." Hermione said, wishing it would remain that way. He laughed and kissed her softly.
"Oi! Get a room you two." James had entered the room carrying Harry and covering the toddler's eyes while grinning.
"Oh give over James." Lily chuckled, nudging her husband playfully.
Soon it was time for a trip to the Weasley's. They had planned to meet the Prewett twins in the village nearby and then walk up to the Burrow for introductions. Gideon and Fabian were there waiting when the group arrived and greeted them happily. It was a warm, sunny day and the sun beat down on their necks while they walked. A light breeze blew across their faces lightly as the lopsided building came into sight. The twins strode up as if they owned the place and walked straight in the front door. The group followed and were greeted with the sight of a very heavily pregnant Molly Weasley.
"Hiya Mol." Gideon hugged his older sister gingerly.
"Trouble One and Trouble Two." She replied with a small smile.
"We brought company. This is James and Lily Potter and their son Harry." The three stepped forwards and Molly pulled them all in for a hug which was slightly awkward around the baby bump.
"So nice to meet you all. Gideon and Fabian speak very highly of you." She smiled politely.
"And this is Sirius Black and Hermione Lupin. She is Remus Lupin's cousin." The other two stepped forwards and when she hugged Hermione a rush of memories overtook her. The Burrow had always been a second home to her during her time at Hogwarts. Molly was like another mother and had counted her amongst her own children from the second she was announced as Ron's friend. The hug felt so familiar and yet so very different.
"Pleasure." Hermione beamed. "When is the little one due?" She asked, knowing very well exactly when the baby would be born. Sirius gave her a knowing grin behind the backs of the twins.
"He is due in a few days."
"He?" Sirius asked innocently.
"Well, all the children in the Weasley family have been boys for about the last five generations." Arthur explained, coming into the room and wrapping an arm around his wife. "I'm Arthur Weasley, nice to meet you all." They all shook hands and then Molly directed them all into the living room. As they walked in, they saw two young boys playing exploding snap in one corner. They looked around ten and eleven so Hermione figured this must be Bill and Charlie. It was incredibly strange seeing them both so small but not half as bizarre as spotting the small red haired boy in a playpen beside them. Ron was very small and entranced by his brothers playing.
"These are our eldest. William, who already prefers Bill and Charlie. That is our youngest at the moment. Ronald." Arthur pointed at each of his children in turn.
"Where are Percy and the twins?" Gideon asked.
"Upstairs in their rooms. I dread to think what the twins are conjuring up." Molly sighed. James, Sirius and the twins all cracked identical, evil grins.
"Whatever you are planning, no!" Lily told them all.
"Awww. Lils!" James whined. "We aren't planning anything."
"Yeah right." Hermione scoffed.
"'Mione. You're supposed to be on our side." Sirius pretended to look hurt. Molly and Arthur both look rather amused.
"I think that's time for lunch." Molly announced, heading for the kitchen.
(A/N It's still technically Monday! Whoop...I'm getting so good at this regular posting malarky. Anyways, please review guys, been getting quite a few less lately and they really do help with motivation. Gotta know what my audience think or there is't much point posting it. I could just write it for myself. Love you all)