THE VEIL

Chapter 26

14th February 1996 - Promises

Hermione floated, drifted in the veil. So close. She was so close. The whispering never faded. It was as if everything within and without of the veil knew and understood how close she was to her point of time in which she had been thrown. She feared she may not come back. It was the reason she had tried to open up to Sirius. It was the reason she sort out Albus Dumbledore. It was one of the reasons she had allowed her panic to take control of her, again. It was also the reason she had berated herself for the weakness. No, Hermione Granger was done with the tears. She was done with the weakness. She was done with the worry on what her friends may think if – no when she would be free of the veil. She took a steadying breath. She could do this. She had made it through this far. She would finish this journey and she would make it back.

The winds raced, the veil parted and she stumbled into the library of twelve Grimmauld Place, startling Remus who was sitting by the fire reading a novel. Remus jumped up wand drawn on her faster than she could react. He lowered it almost as fast and she found herself enveloped in a hug.
"You seem to come at the most interesting moments Hermione." Remus pulled away and smiled tiredly at her. Hermione returned the smile and raised a questioning brow, "It is Valentine's Day." Remus explained; he had a glint in his eye and a mischievous smirk on his face. "I have an idea…"

Sirius lay on his bed throwing darts at a picture attached to the dartboard that hung on the back of his bedroom door. The picture was of a certain potion master. The dartboard and photo, which was now dodging another dart aimed at it, was a Christmas gift from the Weasley twins. Christmas was nearly two months ago. At first he had been extremely glad they had arrived early, despite the circumstances.

He never wanted Arthur Weasley hurt to have time with Harry; it was simply a coincidence that the two events made it happen. Having Harry back in the house also meant having the troupe of boisterous red heads and one curly brown haired witch. He didn't mind their noise and the intrusion had been welcome, especially after months of almost nothing happening. His only issue was how exceedingly close that Harry's Hermione, now looked like his. The first time he had gone into the library to escape the wrathful gaze of Molly, Hermione was in there reading a thick tome curled up on the couch, also hiding from the loud red heads. Thankfully so was Moony, so he didn't accidentally do anything that could have been disastrous, or at least not as disastrous as he had on Christmas morning.

He blamed his hangover, they bumped into each other in the hall and it just slipped out, "Hello Princess." Ginny's snicker snapped him back to the present. Hermione was standing there with a blush to her cheeks, but her eyes were dancing with amusement. "Good morning Mr Black." She replied ever so formally, nodding at him and following Ginny downstairs to the kitchen. He stood in the hall watching her move gracefully down the flight of stairs, his heart thundering in his chest, stopped when she turned and glanced back at him, blushing even more. What made matters worse was the twins suddenly appearing with a seemingly knowing smile greeting him as Hermione had done but with deep exaggerated bows. It broke the tension yet his hand had itched in wanting to cuff them, even more so when Fred whispered, "She has that effect on most of us; completely oblivious."

Sirius threw another dart at the dartboard; it was not a comforting thought. Harry's Hermione already devastating the hearts of males around her and she wasn't his yet or aware she was having an effect. The picture of Severus Snape flipped him the bird. He summoned the darts back to his hand and started to throw again as the door knocked and opened suddenly; Moony caught the dart in the air and leaned on the door frame, looking at his friend lying rumpled on the bed, pouting.

"So Tonks was right. You are hiding up here sulking." He smirked.

Sirius growled, "I do not sulk." His pout deepened. Remus chuckled and stepped into the room closing the door, "Good, because you need to go shower and dress and be in the library in ten minutes."
Sirius raised an eyebrow at his friend, "I didn't think that there was a meeting today?"
Remus's eyes crinkled in amusement, "Padfoot. Trust me. You will regret not doing what I say. Ten minutes." Remus ordered and threw the dart at the board hitting the target and walked out.

Sirius came down twenty minutes later. Still pouting and grumbling. He had done as Remus asked and cleaned himself up, even shaved and trimmed his beard with the trimming kit Remus had given him several Christmas's ago. He left his shirt unbuttoned at the top and his jacket hung off him open. He looked very much like a pirate without the eyepatch.

"Alright Moony what is the need to dress up?" He asked as he swaggered into the library. Remus wasn't there. Instead there was a figure cloaked in a midnight blue cloak. Sirius stopped mid stride as the figure turned. Brown curls peeked out from the hood, and a glimpse of red flashed at the seam of the cloak.

"You're late Mr Black." Her voice soft, coloured in amusement.

"Princess?" Sirius breathed. He was going to kill Remus when he found the old wolf.

She raised her hands, lowering the hood and unclasped the silver bindings, letting the cloak slip off her and pooled at her feet. Sirius forgot how to breathe. She was dressed in a deep red ball gown, the bodice a deep vee neck hugged her torso to where the skirt rippled out from her hips, the material swished at the slightest of movements. She flicked her wand and the cloak flew to drape itself over one of the armchairs. She pointed behind him and music came on, a classical piece. Hermione stepped slowly towards him, her skirt swishing with each step.

"May I have this dance?" She held out her hand and curtsied before him. Sirius's childhood training kicked in, as he struggled to get his thoughts together, and bowed to her taking her hand into his. He brought it to his lips kissing it softly. "It would be my honour Miss Granger." He answered; his voice deep and husky.

He pulled out his wand with his free hand and all the furniture slid against the walls. Pocketing it he spun her and stepped forwards, leading them in a waltz. Hermione's skirt bloomed out as they danced around the room. He had almost forgotten how much he loved dancing, and Hermione was an excellent dance partner. The music changed and they slipped effortlessly into a quick trot. Hermione glowed as they moved in unison. Sirius wanted the moment to last forever, His Hermione was here. And for the first time in so long there were no shadows behind her eyes, nor in his.

"Princess you look stunning." He murmured as they slowed and in the middle of the room moving slowly in circles.
"You don't look half bad yourself Sirius," Her voice a little breathless from their dancing.
"I think I like it more when you call me Mr Black." He gave her a devilish smile, that made her heart beat erratically and two pink blush spots rise on her cheeks. She still raised an eyebrow at him and smirked, "Is that so? Well then, perhaps Mr Black you would be so kind in escorting me to the kitchen for a refreshment?"
Sirius chuckled and pulled her into a deep kiss, pulling away when her eyes became unfocused; "If it is refreshments the lady wants?"
"Uh- um." Hermione's mind still scattered. Sirius grinned and pulled her back in for another sensual kiss. When he pulled away Hermione tried to follow his lips. A wind whispered around them, pulling on her dress.

"Gods Princess, you are captivating." He whispered as held her close. His hand held her cheek, his mercurial eyes penetrated her chocolate brown eyes. "Promise me," He asked his voice ragged with desire. The whispering trailed around the room.
"Hermione, promise me we will have our eternity?" He pulled away and bent to his knee. The wind now whipped around them, Hermione's skirts billowed, as her eyes widened at the little wooden ring box he had pulled out, "Hermione, my Princess, promise me an eternity?" He opened the box and she gasped at the ring that sat within. The whispering drew close and the wind whipped about her pulling her away from him.
"Sirius, I promise." Her words hung in the air as the veil once again claimed her, leaving Sirius kneeling in the middle of the library the ring box still clutched in his hand the ring fallen to the floor as she had faded from him too quickly for her to hold it.

He stared at the ring. He had it made years ago. He remembered the night seventeen years ago when they had babysat Harry. He promised Lily that he would indeed make an honest woman of her. He just hoped that next time she would remain static in time.