Hermione scrunched her nose and sorted the burnt emerald dress; it was conservative, but it went mid-thigh and had quite the low dip in the front with a thick collar. She wasn't spectacularly impressed with this attire, but her escort insisted. Hermione placed a few more pins in her updo and rocked her head before stepping from her room. When she walked into the sitting room at Remus's, all the men directed their attention at her.
Sirius stood from his lean and blinked. "Woah," he puffed with wide eyes.
"Is the makeup too much?" Hermione questioned with a scowl.
She had darkened her eyes with a smokey eye that led into green highlights. Her lips were painted with deep maroon, and her cheeks were highlighted. Why? Well, if she and Severus were stopped, she could most certainly look the part.
Remus licked his lips and stood up. "Well, no one could mistake you for anything but a Black."
Severus ran a hand over his chest and approached her before bowing and taking her hand. Hermione stifled a smirk and allowed him to kiss her gloved dorsal. "I'm quite impressed."
The witch took her hand back and exhaled. "Alright, shall we get this over with? I will change my clothes so I can help Sirius search."
Sirius pulled Remus to his feet and forcefully dragged him over. "Don't forget a kiss goodbye!"
Remus groaned and scrubbed his face. "Pads."
Hermione smiled and approached Remus, kissing his cheek. "We'll be back soon."
He took her hand and encapsulated it between his before kissing her fingers. "Just be safe."
"I have a set of very protective wizards with me," Hermione reassured him and traced gloved fingers against his shoulder.
Remus breathed and managed a smile. "I promise after the full moon. We'll help you with the cottage."
"Shall we?" Severus pressed.
Sirius stepped next to her and glanced at her revealed back. "How do you feel about tattoos?"
Hermione rolled her eyes and caressed Remus's face before pulling away. It was almost comical that he unconsciously leaned like a cartoon character following intoxicating perfume. She turned on her black heels and snapped.
"Come along, Snuffles," she smirked back at Sirius.
"I might take back what I said and thoroughly enjoy you are putting a collar on me if you keep snapping at me like that," Sirius grinned and wagged his eyebrows while handing her a leash and collar.
"She's your cousin, mind you," Severus hissed.
Sirius cocked his head and hummed. "I could make an exception."
"Sirius," Hermione groaned. "Come on. We have places to go."
He chuckled and bowed before turning into a large dog. Hermione bent and placed on the green collar. Severus offered his arm, and they moved to the door. She glanced back at Remus, waving before they exited the house.
Severus straightened his posture and smiled at the witch on his arm. "You look stunning," he noted.
"Well, you did pick out the dress. Sev, I do have to ask, is this how you think I should dress?" Hermione asked him as she fiddled with Sirius's leash in her free hand.
"Absolutely. You have a timeless beauty that should be supported. That was precisely why I knew you could look like a Black," He insisted.
"Thank you," she murmured as color tinted her cheeks.
They stopped at the edge of the wooded area, and Hermione touched Sirius's neck. Severus apparated them to a quiet street. Hermione's shock wasn't feigned. She remembered this place, and her heels clicked on the cement as she twirled and her lips peeled apart.
Sirius barked and tugged her toward the fence. Hermione had to take a few large paces to keep up as 12 Grimmauld Place was revealed. She opened the gate and stared up at the large building. The dog nearly dragged the witch up the staircase, and Severus trailed until she reached the door.
Hermione took a deep breath and grimaced. "Okay."
"Why are you so nervous?" Severus asked.
"The last time I was here was before the war ended," Hermione murmured and opened the door.
When they stepped inside, Hermione released the leash and stared up at the house-elf heads. Severus swished his wand, and the sconces lit. The witch pulled the collar off the dog and frowned at the pristine look of the place. It wasn't anything like she remembered.
Sirius formed back. "Good thing my parents are long gone. My mother died while I was in Azkaban. Fudge showed me the paper of her obituary," he hummed and walked toward the staircase.
Hermione rubbed her covered arm and breathed. "This is so odd."
Severus touched her shoulder and was about to follow Sirius. A gnarled elf popped in front of them and glowered. "Kreacher sees the blood traitor master and strangers."
Sirius paused at the staircase and groaned. "Kreacher! Leave them alone. It's Severus Snape and Adhara Black."
"Black, mistress told Kreacher there are no more Blacks," Kreacher eyed the woman.
Hermione bent and tilted her head. "I lived in Transilvania with my mother, a Turnovo. I'm Alphard's daughter."
Kreacher's scowl lessened, and he took her hand. "Mistress needs to meet Lady Black. Kreacher will show her."
Hermione exhaled as Sirius rolled his eyes and waved his hand. "She likely has a painting up the stairs."
Kreacher nodded and gestured. "Kreacher dusts mistress's painting."
Sirius breached the next level, and curtains flew open. "Sirius Orion Black, how dare you come here!" The painting screeched.
"Yeah, yeah," Sirius snorted and waved his hand at her.
Kreacher led Hermione past him and bowed his head. "Mistress, Kreacher brought you, Lady Black. Alphard's daughter lost in disgusting lands far away."
The painting analyzed her through a deep scowl. "Alphard?"
Hermione glanced down at Kreacher, who nodded. "Lady Black had a Turnovo mother, Mistress. Kreacher sees it in her face."
"You do look like a Black," the painting hissed and tossed her hand. "Disgraced."
Hermione snorted and shook her head. "Well, you're just as pleasant as I remember."
"See, you've met my mother," Sirius chuckled as he wrapped his arm around her.
"Get out! Sirius Black, you blood traitor! I've exiled you!" Walburga screamed.
Hermione flicked her wand at the curtains and shut them. She then tapped her wand on the tattered cloth, and her voice became silenced. "That's quite enough of that."
Kreacher eyed the witch and ran his fingers over the edge of the frame. "Mistress isn't pleased with Lady Black."
"Kreacher, go make yourself useful," Sirius groaned and waved his hand. "She doesn't need your complaints."
Kreacher narrowed his eyes at Sirius. "Yes, master," he huffed and skulked off with mumbling about filth while passing.
"What's the whole lady bit?" Hermione questioned.
"It's because you're a pureblood Black," Severus said from behind them.
Hermione groaned and shook her head. "Alright, let's go find this item, Sirius. The less time we have to spend here around your mother, the better."
Sirius pointed to her clothing. "Why don't you change? We're going to get a bit dusty."
Hermione glanced at the empty room next to them and glanced at Severus. "Are you alright? You seem quiet."
"I came here to find Regulus when he went missing," Severus mumbled.
"Ah, yes, you were best mates, weren't ya? Killing muggles and brushing each other's greasy hair," Sirius snickered with a sneer.
"Stop," Hermione snapped and reached over to smack Sirius's chest.
Sirius puffed and rubbed the spot. "Fine."
Hermione exhaled and went into the room, shutting the door. She flicked her wand, and the dress changed into a tank top and jeans. She pulled the pins from her hair and put her locks up in a ponytail. When she exited the room, Sirius was glaring at Severus.
"What now?" Hermione inquired.
"I just reminded Black that he isn't free and should be more cautious about words," Severus declared.
"Listen, both of you should learn to get along. I have no issue cursing both of you. Now, let's find this item," Hermione sighed and gestured to the staircase.
They climbed to the last floor, and Sirius whistled. "I haven't been here in fourteen years."
Hermione turned and scowled at the room door near the one Sirius was walking toward. She gripped the doorknob and opened it before Sirius noted her distraction. The woman walked inside to see a pristine room aside from a coat of dust.
"There's something in here," she murmured and glanced around.
Sirius tilted his head as Severus waved him off and followed her. "What is it, Hermione?"
"Regulus gave Kreacher something," Hermione mumbled as she went to his dresser.
"Is it important?" Sirius asked.
Hermione looked in the drawers and pinched her forehead as a throbbing began. "I don't know."
"My brother was a death eater," Sirius puffed.
"No, no, he wasn't at the end," Hermione groaned and shook her head. "It's right there."
"Just relax, darling. It will come to you," Severus voiced as he reached for her.
Hermione breathed and took his hand. "I know, Sev. Let's go find Remus's item, Sirius."
Sirius stared at Severus as he escorted her out of the room. He had many questions displayed on his face before walking toward his bedroom door. The animagus opened it and grinned while rubbing his hands together. "Ah, alright, now for the fun part. I'm not sure in which of my hiding spots I had it."
Hermione waved her hand in a circle. "Just tell me what I'm looking for."
"You'll know it when you see it. Why don't you start with my wardrobe, love? I know you've been dying to see if I was a boxers or briefs type of bloke," Sirius teased and dropped to the floor.
Hermione groaned but marched over to the crooked wardrobe. "Sirius, we really need to work on your conversation mannerisms. One of these days, you're going to receive a hex for your delivery."
"Agreed," Severus grumbled.
Hermione dug through the clothing. "How big is this thing?"
"Oh, it's big, well, kind of big. I'm telling you, you'll know what it is when you find it," Sirius said as he was under his bed digging in the floorboards.
Severus glanced at the posters on the wall and grimaced. "Black, you have naked muggle women on the wall."
Sirius laughed, and there was thudding under the bed. "Yes, well, my mother hated it. Plus, they're pretty sexy. I do love bikinis. I believe I even have a nice centerfold there, Snivellus."
Hermione glanced over to see Severus taking a closer examination of them, and she covered her smile with a sleeve of a jacket in her hand. The Potion Master was transfixed, and Hermione quite liked that he did a very male thing despite his dry nature.
Severus glanced over and noted her watching while stifling her smile. "I was only observing the crude nature of the photos," He puffed and looked away.
Hermione pulled the sleeve away and laughed. "Severus, it's perfectly fine to admire pictures."
"Yeah, Snivellus. I'm sure we can convince Addie to get into something skimpy to swim in," Sirius chuckled and then groaned.
"A bikini is not in my future, Sirius," Hermione sighed.
"Why not? You had all of us eating out of your hand in a simple dress," Sirius chuckled before grunting. "There it is!"
Hermione took the small beaten-up jacket from his wardrobe and set it on the bed before sinking below the bed. Sirius was almost halfway into the cubby he must have created below his bed. She crawled over to him and pulled out her wand, lighting the area. This hiding spot had many baubles and items, but when Sirius smiled over at her, he squeezed the item, and it squeaked.
"You came all this way for a dog toy?" Hermione asked with a scowl.
"An indestructible dog toy. I got it enchanted, and we marauders gave it to him for Christmas in our third year. I took it with me because he was embarrassed to pack it in his truck at school. See, it has the rope and a chewing bit on it too. We've gotten tons of use out of it," Sirius declared before climbing from the hole.
Hermione glanced at Sirius under the bed as they faced each other. "You're sometimes very sweet," she smiled.
Sirius beamed and winked at her before disappearing from the bed. "Well, Addie, I think that concludes my needs from this dump."
Hermione climbed back out and scrunched her nose. "I'll have to figure out the item Kreacher has from Regulus. He won't tell us unless I know of the item in question."
Severus rocked his head. "We'll figure it out. Now that we can come back here, it shouldn't be too difficult to retrieve."
"I wonder if women dress differently now," Sirius remarked as he glanced at the posters on his wall.
"They do," Hermione giggled while shaking her head. "Even smaller than now in a few years," she murmured in a lower tone.
Sirius grinned wickedly at her. "Oh, surprises. I do love that you bring all the fun with you."
Severus groaned and stepped from the room. His footsteps were heard on the staircase, and Hermione picked up the jacket. "Well, he is quite put out," she grumbled.
"Are you taking that?" Sirius asked as he pointed to the jacket.
"Yes, I thought it was nice, and I'm going to keep it now. It's too small for you," Hermione said.
"Funny," Sirius smirked and crossed his arms.
"What's so funny?" She inquired while putting on the tawny worn jacket.
Sirius wagged his eyebrows. "That's Moony's jacket I took from him. The only thing of Moony's in my wardrobe," he finished with a wide grin.
Hermione's cheeks tinted, and she wandered from the room. They finished at 12 Grimmauld Place and headed to the fireplace. It was just going to be waiting for them when she remembered exactly what Kreacher had held for Regulus. Eventually, they would find out, being that her memories cleared up… maybe?