Touched Your Lips

by Ydream08

Chapter 14

"They do magic as any pureblood child can," Hermione insisted. "Hogwarts has graduated many Muggleborns and Halfbloods throughout the years. It's the exact same seven years of education. They all take the same OWLs and NEWTs, and they are qualified for jobs, so why not make these wizards and witches a functional part of the society?"

While Abraxas was leaving hints of his support for her, Hermione was explaining her views in tidbits. These fundraisers, galas and balls were means to establish Hermione as a candidate; for what Hermione was not sure. Abraxas was not fully forthcoming with his plans, but leaving Hermione's suspicions aside, it was a good thing to provide the indecisive or neutral part of the wizarding society another option.

"You are thinking too highly of them, Miss Dagworth-Granger." The man sniffed, looking unconvinced and irritated of their conversation. Hermione couldn't believe this was the same man she exchanged her passion for historical books just a moment ago. "None can do the work required of them. Many flee to their Muggle world, given the chance. But still our Ministry is lenient to let them in and out. For their luxury of stealing from our world on a whim, the Ministry takes further cautions to even hush our existence. I won't take lightly to this oppression."

Hermione pursed her lips. Not indecisive or neutral, this one.

"You contradict still, Miss Dagworth-Granger?" gasped the man's wife. A light brunette who has been observant throughout their conversation. She had lost interest the moment Hermione mentioned she was a collector of books. Hermione deduced the woman was tired of her husband's hobby already that she didn't engage in Hermione's enthusiasm too.

"I agree to some point, Mrs Crouch." Addressing to the woman, Hermione reminded herself how important it was to get it past Mr. Crouch's thick head that integration should be supported as opposed to segregation. If the Ministry policy wasn't changed promptly, and Mr. Crouch would get his promotion to switch Mr. Jorgensen as Head of Magical Law Enforcement, pureblood animosity against muggleborns would rocket with the new laws enabling the likes of Moody killing suspects on Auror duty without capture.

Thinking back to how both sides, the Death Eaters and the Ministry, both one-upped the other these exact years that led to a civil war breaking out, Hermione wasn't surprised she got herself a massive headache.

"I believe the Statue of Secrecy should be sustained for now as Muggles are struggling through unpredictable times themselves, and the revelation of our kind would pose an uncontrollable reaction. And in that light, unsupervised Muggleborns arise as a conflict of interest for the Ministry. But, there is a simple solution."

Hermione stared hard at Mr. Crouch, to make sure he listened intently, but the feeling that his wife cared more about what she was about to say lingered with her.

Screw it, Hermione thought, even if she was going to be a mild Umbridge to propose such an idea, it was a compromise she was willing to make.

"Detect Muggleborns early on, take their parents in a magical vow for secrecy, and provide them early education before Hogwarts to win them in society better. Once they are out of school, they will have jobs where the Ministry can supervise them and thus there will be no concern about their affiliation."

Same goes for other creatures like werewolves, vampires and giants. Hermione didn't say that of course, she didn't want these people who saw creatures even below Muggleborns to jump to conclusions. One at a time, Hermione reminded herself and mentally took a deep breath.

If the society gave the Muggleborns the chance to prove themselves, and Hermione's proposition was just that, a chance, they could make better of themselves. Hermione had proved herself in spite of those bigoted purebloods standing in her way. Surely the ones in this era could use her help better. She would have Abraxas with her to convince purebloods to respect and avoid violence.

They needed time. With time and monopolizing the money transactions to organizations such as the Death Eaters, they could prevent an actual war from breaking out.

Of course, Hermione would get her hands dirty to snuff their head, Tom Riddle. But she had no qualms about that internally.

"If we all do that and every single Muggleborn fails to work, say as a simple clerk in the Ministry or even in a bookshop to magically float the books back to their respective places, then I will support that their magic is false."

Hermione smiled to Mr. Crouch's raised eyebrow, but she knew the man at least caught up to her sarcasm.

"Ah, there you are, my lovely," came Abraxas' voice. "I mentioned your pre-Hogwarts education programme to Mr. Bird and he is keen to hear your view with his own ears."

Nodding to Mr. Crouch, then kissing the back of Mrs. Crouch's hand, Abraxas added, "Mind if I whisk her away? I shouldn't have left her to her own devices to begin with, but you must know, Mrs. Crouch, when males fail to attend to their ladies, they are capable of finding a conversationalist of equal or more intrigue."

Abraxas made a point of directly speaking to Mrs. Crouch, but Hermione didn't ponder over the detail as she was dragged by Abraxas.

This whole thing was a game to him and Hermione was aware how it brought fun and youth to his otherwise dull life. The man acted as though he hadn't recovered from a lethal diease merely months ago.

Finishing the day with amiable people promising to owl Hermione for details, she and Malfoy parted ways in watch of single witches and Witch Weekly paparazzis. They were never convinced she had nothing to do with Abraxas, but at the same time wanted exactly that to be true.

Hermione really tired of the expectations of the society of 70s on single woman. She was pitied and left alone for her dramatic heritage revelation, but as the days crawled past, families took initiative for the same exact reasons if they had an available male to marry. Whenever an elder witch questioned Hermione on her status, Hermione missed having Evan with her to fend off their preying stares, measuring looks and contemplating words.

Evan was missed also because Hermione did like his attention on her. Not only because he carried her to any and every event in the wizarding society, invited her over to dinner and events, but also because Evan saw her as a woman before anything else. At least for the first month until she agreed to sleep with him that had been the case. His attention-span for one woman wasn't longer than that, but Hermione appreciated that considering the few one-night stands she pulled off after Ron. Or similar relationships which didn't last longer than three weeks.

Well, her medical education and obsessive studying schedule never let anything for more to happen.

Apparating to her empty house, Hermione was thinking she was missing having a special someone to fill her life, and preferably herself too, and she sighed as she thought how Godric-curse-it-all impossible it was for her.

Her pity party was interrupted, however, the moment she sniffed the room to notice a nasty smell of burnt something… oh, Merlin, not her house!

The clang and clatter of wares alerted Hermione to rush to the kitchen, and run she did.

"Hot, hot, hot!" The hiss of the younger wizard who held his hand while jumping from one foot to another, and his desperate whimpering filled her ears the moment she stepped in.

"Sirius?!"

Hermione forgot she had Sirius over her house. The teenager was in her kitchen making a mess, burning Merlin-knows-what, and scorching himself with-

"Is that boiled water all over the place?" Hermione shrieked as she got her wand out. One swish and the pot rolling on the ground, still making noise, vanished. Another flick and the hot water everywhere evaporated. Lastly, she took a hold of Sirius' hands and waved her wand over to heal his minor burn injuries.

She'd need to find salves to prevent any scars.

Raising her eyes to scold him, Hermione noticed the smoke coming from the pan behind him, and deduced the burnt smell of meat came from there immediately. "Oh, Merlin."

Half an hour later, Hermione and Sirius sat in the sitting room, Hermione feeding Sirius of the pasta he failed to cook but she accomplished perfectly, regardless of Sirius' pout and whining.

"My hands are fine now."

"I don't trust that you won't drop the plate," Hermione joked with a smile on her face. But the truth was that she liked sharing from one plate, getting a bite herself and offering another to him the next.

She grinned when she ate the bite she offered to him herself, teasing him.

"Very funny."

"Funny enough," Hermione said her mouth full. The muffled sound was so reminiscent of Ronald, that she had a hard time swallowing.

The past months, she was doing fine not thinking about her best friends, or took a sleeping draught when she decided to think too much, so Hermione didn't want today to start on her potions again.

"You don't cook, but tried to anyway." Hermione commented after some time.

"Well, I was hungry."

"It is well past midnight." Even while saying that Hermione was aware it was natural for teenagers to crave food while growing up.

"Hungry and no-elves."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Point taken."

"How do you live here on your own, though? No one cooks, cleans, works. I don't like house-elves myself, nasty and stupid creatures, but they are useful."

"Sirius Black!"

"What? Who do you think cleans our rooms or cooks for us in Hogwarts?"

Hermione didn't comment, wanting to divert attention. Knowing how much her own Sirius hated Kreacher, she didn't want to push her thoughts on elf liberation.

"I'll get another plate. Pasta and unburnt steak."

As she walked in, Hermione heard Sirius', "Ha, ha, ha."

Smiling, she returned and this time passed the plate to him, knowing full well that he could eat himself.

"How is your Potions homework coming along? Finished? I left you with half of the first scroll of parchment finished. How long was the gala? I think Abraxas took me around six, so, what, you had seven hours to continue it?"

Sirius chewed the pasta in his mouth and refused to answer, to which Hermione giggled. Oh, he was so obvious!

"Fine. I'm not going anywhere from Thursday till the end of the week. So if we finish Transfiguration and Potions till Saturday, I promise you a day out. How's that?"

"It won't be like the picnic you brought my homework along, right?" Sirius pleaded.

Hermione scrunched her face. "It's good to switch sceneries, it stimulates your mind to work better-"

"No homework." The raise of his brow and the partly fed-up and partly unbelieving stare of his reminded Hermione of his father. Orion Black's glances at his wife were mostly like that, as much as Hermione observed back at the dinner anyway.

"Of course, not!" Hermione huffed. To prove him wrong, Hermione had to play her last resort. "In fact-"

Diving her hand in her beaded bag -this was a new one with the same charms- Hermione pulled out two tickets. "Falmouth Falcons versus Quiberon Quafflepunchers. On sunday, it was going to be a surprise but-"

Hermione couldn't hear her voice over Sirius scream and the Quidditch trivia that spilled from his mouth. She could only understand that this was among the few international games before the World Cup and apparently Sirius admired the French Chaser of the Quiberon Quafflepunchers. Something about how he had the best score for a newbie in the last tournament.

"You are the best daughter, ever, Hermione!"

At that, Hermione stalled. Sirius' hype died down promptly but he didn't notice the switch in her until he turned to face her. When both parties felt at loss of words, the heavy silence reigned, aware that this was a topic both wanted to avoid.

Well, they had avoided for the few days Sirius was here.

"You don't have to, you know, explain it, or anything-"

Hermione saw an eager boy actually dying for answers, but what he said was sweet and considerate in a naive way only children were capable. Shite. Hermione had wished they could both act as though this tidbit of information never came by them -by Sirius- and Hermione would monitor him to see that the secret never came out.

Hermione faced that she might have to Obliviate or force Sirius into a Vow. Very much how she had done with the Malfoys.

Sighing, Hermione realized those were not options for Sirius the longer she looked at the Marauder she saw as a father. The future version of him, at least.

"Sit down, Sirius, will you?"

His feet dragging on the carpet, Sirius sat down. Hermione didn't know where to start, what to say, or even how much should she say. She was changing the future, that was apparent, but any information she revealed to Sirius would affect a thirteen year old child.

Her predictions to how Sirius would take in the fact that he served twelve years in Azkaban and escaped only to have his mind set to kill his childhood friend, a friend whom Sirius saw as his best friend now, would irreversibly damage young Sirius Black.

Idiot, Hermione thought as she felt her mouth go dry. She wasn't going to reveal those horrific events of the future. Before mentioning even those, she would be forced to confess that Harry's parents would die- news she knew this Sirius would not take calmly.

Noticing that she was tapping her foot, her leg bouncing up and down, she increased its speed to somewhat ease her mind. Her fast beating heart didn't provide enough air to her lungs and she found herself feeling trapped.

Dear Merlin, her Sirius -the one she helped to do his homework, cooked for him, laughed with him, messed his hair- would be sentenced to Azkaban, abandoned by his family and his best friends lost.

No, no, no. Hermione would change that all. Either there would be no first wizarding war or she would die trying to murder Voldemort for good. Harry would not become a Horcrux, nor would his parents die.

"Hermione?"

Hearing her name, she looked up to see a confused and worried Sirius. No tattoos were visible, not on his neck, hands, collarbone, nowhere. His hair was shiny and clean. His cheeks were full and his eyes shone with youth. Hermione noticed his face recently growing hair.

She would protect Sirius.

She would pay back for the kindness of her adoptive father.

Sirius who offered her sanctuary, welcomed her to his family, worried about her as if she was his daughter by blood. She was.

She was Hermione Black. Sirius' Hermione. And she would stand by her family. Her one and only family.

"You adopted me," Hermione blurted out. Beside a flicker of shock that passed his stare, young Sirius didn't bat an eye and preserved his composure.

"Sirius Black adopted me," Hermione repeated, this time as if she was choking. Merlin, she hadn't realized she would get emotional this quickly. Her eyes hurt with tears. "The godfather of my best friend, Harry Potter, protected me and accepted me to his family."

Saying it out loud, Hermione couldn't fight the sob anymore. He was lost. Hermione had no one. No one to think about her, care for her, anybody who'd care whether she lived or died.

Harry and Ron would have cared.

None were here.

Molly, Arthur, McGonagall, Remus and Dora would care.

None were here.

Her parents and Sirius would have cared.

They were dead.

Wiping her eyes, Hermione took a deep breath. Her nose ran but there was no tissue. Great.

"I traveled back in time," she whispered. Even if Sirius' black trousers were in her sight (she looked down) it felt so lonely saying the words. It was as if she was talking to herself. Confessing- confessing sins, really.

By traveling back in time, she had destroyed the future, hadn't she? She had killed the happiness of her friends, ended the peace many of them died fighting for, and now her actions were condemning many people to awful fates.

As far as Hermione knew currently, the Muggleborns and other "inferior" creatures were far away from earning the rights they had back in the new millenium. She would gladly relive the Battle, be a murderer again, but to start as early as before the first wizarding war?

Playing political games had a risk to not give the desired results and Hermione dreaded carrying the burden of the many more deaths, especially for a conflict that had been solved. In her own time.

"I shouldn't know this, then." Sirius' voice brought Hermione's attention back. She rose her gaze to meet with his calculating one. His eyes stared at his hands, his brows knitted together while anger converted his face. "Right?"

Their gazes locked, Hermione could only nod.

"Compromising your identity if you travel back in time has deadly consequences," Sirius rushed. Hermione was awed at his knowledge of the first rules of time travel- although Hermione was breaking most of them, if not all.

Her conscience was clear with how she blamed the Malfoys for their meddling.

"Not if," Hermione cleared her throat, "If you don't share with anybody else."

At her words, Sirius gulped, his eyes opening a fraction. Hermione sensed his magic condense, and as the skilled Legilimens she was, she picked up how his magic clouded his mind and thoughts cleared away behind his eyes.

First warding of the mind, Hermione thought and wondered where Sirius picked up basic Occlumency. He was a beginner, obviously, with how he let his magic be seen, but even the greatest wizards and witches had a hard time balancing their power whenever they were emotionally unstable.

Wincing at his protective behaviour, Hermione frantically shook her head. She would not raise her wand at Sirius- she wouldn't Obliviate him.

"I need a wizarding Oath. And then maybe, you can help me?"

His hands corrected any crease of the white button up before he wore his vest. Checking his tie from the mirror, tightening it just in case, Orion then smoothed his combed hair once again. Pleased with what he saw, lastly he donned his outer robes.

Eyes lazily going over his outwear, Orion smirked and turned to leave his bedchambers.

"Make me wait all the time, will you?" huffed his wife the moment Orion stepped in the hall. He didn't mind. The vexed contortion of her face was that of a portrait; it never changed. That was Walburga Black for you. Has been and will always be.

"Walburga," Orion greeted her but she barely heard it with her fussing of how late they were. His wife cared only because she missed out the valuable gossip- it was the day children went for Hogwarts, after all.

Many from their circles would be on the platform, perhaps not the husbands like Orion would, but ladies from the elite loved sending off children. It was among the few chances the society took notice of which were the better parents and whose children would attend- scandals of Squibs were sought, Orion knew.

Unfortunate and disgraceful for the parents, but gossip indeed.

If he wasn't mistaken, Orion knew of children from the Sayres, Fawleys and Greengrasses that would start the same year as his younger son Regulus. That was the extent of his knowledge, thus why he wasn't as involved with gossip as his dear wife.

Regulus, now that Orion paid more attention to him, looked rather enthusiastic but nervous at the same time. Noticing how tight his boy held onto the hem of his robes and tightly closed his lips, Orion couldn't help but smile at Regulus' attempt to look aloft about his first day.

His letter has come and today he would leave for his school. It was amusing to observe the restraint his son tried to possess, but failed due to his youth. He would grow to be a responsible Black, Orion knew. But for now, he was proud that his son was armed with a wand and eager mind.

Clutching Regulus' shoulder to squeeze in support, Orion smiled at the thought how similar he looked to Sirius, his older son.

Orion hadn't seen Sirius off to school, but he doubted his day had been different than Regulus'. It was Regulus' luck that the excuse of meeting Miss Dagworth-Granger presented itself; now Orion was set to send him off as well. But for his sons both, even like this, their first farewells were exponentially better than how Orion himself was sent off to school.

He had been the second son, not to mention the wrong branch of the Black family. He hadn't been special enough for his parents to see off to school.

Burying that particular train of thought, he focused how Sirius must have been as excited. Perhaps even more than Regulus, here! Knowing the spirit of his elder son, Orion suspected he had been outrageous for Walburga to contain.

Then again, it had been disappointing to hear that he was taken by the lions upon sorting. Walburga had screeched about it; of course through a howler as Orion had been absent from the house- thank Merlin. However, it was not as dire as how the Nott's banished their only heir the very same year.

That had helped Walburga to shut up. A leverage she displayed among her society friends; at least her son was magical.

Orion agreed to that last thought. He wouldn't have lived with his own father hearing about their heir being a Squib. With Sirius' birth, Orion had achieved the main responsibility of being the Lord Black: maintain the name.

He has been a free man every since, and for the first time in many years, today, when Miss Dagworth-Granger would bring his son to him, Orion Black would act according to his heart's true desire.

"Let's go," Orion said, not wishing to waste another minute.

Walburga grabbed Regulus' upper arm, then Orion Disapparated the three of them.

"Come on, let's load your luggage!" Hermione shouted over the bustle of the crowd. She had forgotten the sea of wizards and witches packed in the rather narrow platform. Younger ones ran about, shouting, laughing and even singing, and that was not all of it considering the familiars were making all kinds of noises.

One cat hissed when she accidentally stepped on its tail, even. An idiot must have lost it, like Neville had Trevor.

"This way," Sirius beckoned her. Clasping her hand, he dragged her to the line to load the luggage. "I can use engorgio on the luggage myself, Hermione? You don't need to-"

"Magic is not allowed for you. Underage, remember?"

"We'are on the platform! Merlin, witch! And I'm fourteen."

Hermione rolled her eyes, a smile on her lips. "Three more years for me to cast spells instead of you, then."

At his groan, Hermione laughed. Sirius was grumpier today, partially her fault. She had mentioned how she would deliver him to his parents, and the young Gryffindor got all worked up how he would rather board the train directly.

Hermione relented saying that it would be fine if he came with her and quickly said his farewells while Hermione took care of the formalities with his parents. Not that Hermione was dying to see Walburga Black herself, but still.

They ran into the Potters on their way to find the Blacks. It was bad luck, Hermione knew as she was positive now it would be impossible to take Sirius to the Blacks without Hermione dragging Sirius by force to separate him from his friends. Remus and Peter were here as well.

"So you brought Sirius here?" Mr. Potter inquired. He was more interested in gossip than his wife, honestly.

"Yes, actually. He stayed with me the last two weeks. He begged me to help his homework." The roll of her eyes and her mock exasperation elicited a laugh from Mr. Potter.

"That's our Sirius, just like Jamie, right honey?" Mr. Potter agreed.

"You should have seen how he disappeared everytime we brought up school, teachers and homework," added Mrs. Potter. "I asked him eventually, and he… hid the truth, shall I say? You should have seen his guilt over the three days that followed."

"Oh as if guilt does the homework itself," Hermione commented which earned her a belly laughter from Mr. Potter.

Just as the man was about to tell his memories from school days, a repeat actually, Hermione caught the sight of a familiar man in grey suit and robes.

He stood by a pillar, not mixed with the common crowd but neither disappearing back at the sidelines. Around him people went to their business, rushing after their kids or catching up with each other children and adults alike. He was stood without anyone, though. His hands leisurely hanging in his pockets, the glint of his vest chain visible through the crack of his outer robes, and the black of his hair rang a bell in Hermione's mind that she knew this man.

He must think the same, she thought, as his intense gaze was locked with hers.

Meeting with his eyes did the trick. Hermione remembered him differently. Having seen him once over dinner, Hermione couldn't pick out the differences. Perhaps the natural moustache? Rather more formal robes? His composure and the confidence with which he held himself were the same, and the rest of his appearance -his face specifically- was one and a same with the young boy Hermione had over her home the past two weeks.

He was Sirius' father, Orion Black.

Hermione turned to look at Sirius, who was in the middle of a merry conversation with his friends. Looking back at Sirius' father -although she was not there, Walburga Black had to be close- Hermione felt a pang in her heart to remove Sirius from his friends. She didn't want Sirius to be upset, over anything.

Realizing that the man had seen his son, Hermione thought a quick explanation to him that Sirius would board the train with his friends would be adequate.

"Sorry, Mr. Potter," Hermione interrupted Mr. Potter to whose school memories she hadn't been paying attention.

"Flemont. And Euphemia for me, Hermione. Please," Mrs. Potter- Euphemia corrected.

Hermione smiled at them both. "Excuse me for a moment."

"Sirius?" she called, and once he turned to her, only then she held his shoulder. She had grown the habit of this: calling, informing Sirius, so that her touch wouldn't be an unwelcome surprise. "I saw your father. If you want, I'll go talk with him and you can stay here with the Potters? Board the train with your friends, yeah?"

His eyes sought his father at this news, and Hermione watched as Sirius' eyes popped open in shock upon laying eyes on his father.

"Father? He came," whispered Sirius, his mouth agape. Then he shook off his daze. "No, no, I'll come with you, Hermione."

Sirius quickly extracted himself from his friends, promising to find them in the train, and Hermione bid her farewell to everyone before she accompanied Sirius to his parents.

Walking to the man whose gazes switched between his son and her, Hermione felt her heartbeat increase for no reason at all. She was aware how Sirius searched through the crowd still, perhaps for his mother, but Hermione couldn't help but focus more on the man that stood now not more than five steps. She appreciated his built, height and overall posture. Dashing, she thought. Merlin forgive her, but he was so her type!

Scolding herself that it was not the time nor the place for those thoughts, she smiled and extended her hand.

"Mr. Black," she greeted him but couldn't help the escape of an, "Oh" when the man in question gently held her hand in his gloved one to lower his lips on her knuckles.

"Lord Black," he corrected her as he straightened again. Hermione didn't imagine the linger of his grasp. He reluctantly let go. The heat that burned her neck and face hopefully didn't paint her cheeks red, as a consequence.

Luckily, Sirius was there to greet his father too so Lord Black's focus was immediately removed from Hermione least she evaporate at the spot.

"Son, you've been a gentlemen to Miss Dagworth-Granger, I hope?"

At the mention of her, both males turned to her and this time Hermione blushed at Sirius' genuine smile.

"Of course, he has been!" Hermione blurted out before Sirius could answer. "He's such a lovely boy, truly! It's been a joy to have him."

Hermione didn't imagine Sirius' smile growing wider and his eyes shining bright the moment he saw his father's pleased smile.

Seeing Sirius this happy, Hermione couldn't stop herself from musing out loud: "You must be proud of him."

Sirius' freeze was painfully obvious as Hermione's smile, too, dropped at realizing her misstep. Watching Lord Black creasing his brows, Hermione's heart filled with dread. She shouldn't have said-

"Yeah," the whisper of Lord Black was quite unexpected. His brows relaxed, there was no smile on his face, but he looked thoughtful instead. "Yes, I am."

As if sobering from his admission, Lord Black added, "He honoured his host properly and seem to have left a good impression on you, Miss Dagworth-Granger. At the second thought, he has the wild streak of his grandmother's, but I hope he hasn't been a trouble to handle."

"No, of course not."

Hermione didn't know what else to say as she felt like she interrupted a special moment. Lord Black kept looking at her, studying her face, all the while Sirius was stood next to her, gazing at his father without a word forming on his mouth. He was bewildered but pleased, the pink tint of his cheeks made his bashfulness apparent.

"Mother-?" Sirius finally managed just when Hermione thought she could no longer escape from the pull of Lord Black's eyes- she had been doing her best to not look directly in them.

"She's seen Regulus off and joined her friends. I wait for her to come back, too, but I was looking for you in the meantime." His eyes finally caught Hermione's and he smirked, "As promised."

"T-thank you," Hermione stuttered and blushed. She was about to say something about how it was nice of them to let her have Sirius again, but Lord Black beat her to it.

"I should be thanking you, for taking such great care of my son."

The whistle of the train sounded which had the three of them wincing at the unexpected sound. Hermione realized how less of the crowd remained and most of them had already lined closer to the wagons.

Somebody flailed arms from one of the windows of the train, and a shout accompanied, "SIRIUS!"

"James!" Sirius replied not as loud, but Harry's father saw Sirius respond and made gestures to have him join them.

"I better go," Sirius said. Before Hermione knew what was happening, arms were around her. Sirius hugged her so tight that Hermione shrieked. She forgot how tall he was even now, around five feet and seven inches. Taller than her by a mere few inches.

Pulling himself away, Sirius turned to nod to his father. "Father." Then he ran to the train.

Hermione waved to him, nodding fiercely as he shouted, "Send me letters!"

She hadn't realised her eyes were teary until the train was lost out of sight. Sniffing, she laughed at the oddness of the situation. She felt like a mother herself, sending a child away to Hogwarts! How absurd was that? The past two weeks she had really gotten used to having Sirius around, though. Her house felt more like home with him. He was her family. Being the noise, the presence, the happiness in her life.

She was alerted with a handkerchief in her line of sight. Raising her eyes to find Lord Black offering her the black fabric, she smiled to him and accepted the kindness.

Patting over her eyes to rid of tears, she turned to Lord Black. "Thank you. I will miss him, that's all. It's been amazing to have him."

Hermione couldn't help but stare at train tracks where the wagons stood a moment ago. The longer Lord Black was silent without answering her, the more aware Hermione became of the two of them standing side by side. She couldn't get herself to meet his eyes, then.

"You care about him," Lord Black finally commented. At the sound of his deep voice, Hermione turned to him, the rich sound compelling her to look in the depths of his grey eyes.

And she did exactly that. They gazed into each other's eyes, looking for something none were aware what, and Hermione felt intrigue replace the drain of Sirius' departure.

Who was this man? Truly? She knew him as Sirius' father, but not even once has Sirius mentioned his parents while he stayed with her. Regulus sure, but his father? Even he talked more about his mother back in her original time, Hermione reminded herself. However, that dinner she had attended and today, Lord Black didn't seem so remote to fatherhood. He was strict, yes, but nonetheless a father to Sirius.

Her brows knitted together at that. What kind of a father was he, though? Sirius had been abused throughout his childhood. He had been abandoned by his family! Banished from the name, even. He was already mistreated. Shying away from contact, having bouts of temper and accidental magic too, not to mention closing off the outside world now and again.

Two weeks were enough to observe that much. She had concluded that the presence of his friends in school and being away from his abusers helped throughout his stay in Hogwarts. But staying with Hermione had been a new experience, and Sirius had once confessed how he worried about his mother's reaction for not having gone back home. "They let me go to the Potters. Mother reprimands me for associating with blood-traitors," -he spat that word- "But overall I think she is fine with it because she likes it that she doesn't have to put up with me for that month."

Remembering small details like that, Hermione's face soured further. What was this man to Sirius, then? As a father, did he let his wife treat his son like this?

He must have known, Hermione insisted internally and her anger grew.

Not a moment ago, the man had said he was proud of his son though. And Hermione saw no malice in his expression. He was distant and strict with Sirius, sure, but abuse him?

"Miss Dagworth-Granger- Hermione, can I call you Hermione?"

Hermione suppressed her thoughts, smoothed her anger and concentrated at the man. She would give him the benefit of the doubt, and first contemplate to murder Walburga. Hermione had evidence on her. Orion Black would come next if he wasn't free of charges, so to speak.

Hermione was a capable witch, in every sense.

Nodding to him, she let him continue. "I would like to hear more about Sirius' stay and how my son is doing, especially for school. I don't have the closest relationship with him, unfortunately."

"Oh," Hermione managed to comment. The remainder of her anger extinguished at that last confession. Give the benefit of doubt, indeed.

A keen smirk at his lips, Lord Black asked, "Would you join me over dinner tonight? We'd dine and discuss."

Hermione blinked, shocked beyond words. As the words settled in, her cheeks flamed. Was Orion Black asking her out?

No, no, no. He was married. And he just wanted to discuss his son; regarding Hermione as private teacher or something.

She could talk with Lord Black, cautiously venture about their family life and help Sirius in some way, at least. She could do that. That was a logical thing to do, and beneficial. It made sense.

Without realizing she put a curly strand to the back of ear, she cleared her throat. Meeting his eyes, all she could think of was how she did not ask about whether Walburga Black would join them.

"Yes, I would like that."

Hello!

There is news that school starts for me, lol. So, from today onwards I'm aiming for one chapter per month. I hope I'll manage that :D

Hope you've liked the chapter ;)

-Ydream08