"Murderers are not monsters, they're men. And that's the most frightening thing about them."
― Alice Sebold, The Lovely Bones
"Dotty, have you seen Reuben?" It was late the next afternoon when Hermione noticed she had yet to see either Reuben or Antonin, and she knew Dotty would know where they could be found.
"Dotty took them to your safe house. We apparated there early this morning. There are many preparations needed to ensure your safety. Dotty is helping them too, but she told them her main concern is taking care of Missy Hermione and the others. They are grown men and can fend for themselves." She finished with a self-assured nod, causing Hermione to laugh.
Later that afternoon Regulus asked to meet her back in the room where she'd run into Antonin the previous night. As he spoke she found her eyes wandering back to the pictures on the mantel, in particular, the picture of a wizard uncomfortably holding a baby.
"Hermione, are you listening to us?" Remus' voice caught her attention.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Remus." she looked down sheepishly, "I didn't notice you come in."
"I didn't think you had," he chuckled softly, "but this is important. Regulus is going over the details for your travel to the safehouse."
"Right," Regulus began, "So because we can't risk you splintching during apparation, and port keys are so highly regulated we have determined the best way for you to travel will be by train. Yax and Dolohov will be poly juiced to look like a couple of random muggles but the effects of poly juice on a pregnant witch aren't well researched, so you'll have to spend any time in public under an invisibility cloak."
She let out a breath. "For the entire trip?"
"Well, not the entire trip, Hermione. For the long train ride, Sirius is trying to secure the three of you private quarters so you'll be able to be uncovered in them." Remus began wringing his hands. "You'll also have to stay overnight in a train car."
She closed her eyes, "Let me guess, we'll all be in one cabin?"
He nodded, "It's safest for all of you if you don't split up. We will make sure there are plenty of beds though, and surely they're both gentlemanly enough to exit when you have to, well, change." He looked away quickly.
Hermione snorted, "Reuben maybe, but have you met Dolohov? If he had his way I'd be sleeping out in the snow."
"Don't be so quick to judge, Hermione." Regulus looked at her earnestly, "You may think him a monster, but you will never find someone more fiercely loyal than Antonin Dolohov. He may be a good killer, but he's an even better ally."
Regulus' words were still going through her mind 2 weeks later as she made her way toward their compartment in their first train. Since she was invisible she had to follow very close behind Antonin. So close that she was gripping the back of his coat through the cloak.
Their train compartment was just a bit bigger than the compartments that she was used to with The Hogwarts Express. When Reuben pulled the window shade down and signalled to her that it was safe Hermione gladly removed the cloak from around her.
Once she was settled on the seat of the train she watched Antonin put the meagre luggage they'd brought along in the overhead before taking a seat across from her. Though it was early afternoon she found herself tired and soon fell asleep leaning against the window.
Hermione was awoken two hours later to find herself laying on the bench and in the cabin alone with Antonin. Sitting up she knocked something onto the ground. Upon further inspection, she noticed that it was Antonin's Jacket.
"You looked cold," he looked up from the book he was reading. "Yax went to go find us some food. He should be back any minute."
"Thank you," she picked the jacket up off the floor and offered it back to him. When he took it she sat back on the bench, looking toward her feet and fidgeting her hands. The longer they sat in silence the more uncomfortable the pair felt. Antonin was visibly relieved when the compartment door opened and Reuben came back in.
"They didn't have too much," he shrugged his shoulders, "but I got us some sandwiches."
A day and a half (and many transfers) later, they were finally at a train station just outside of Moscow. "It should be safe enough for you to walk without the cloak," Antonin stood and began to pull their luggage down. Handing a small bag to her he led the way from their cabin.
Hermione had to speed walk to keep up with the two men as they made their way through the crowded station. When they got to a small alcove between the restrooms and the ticket counter Antonin pulled his wand and a water bottle from his jacket and mumbled a quick spell. "I was able to get a PortKey from the Russian Ministry," he explained, "Hold onto this, and be careful not to let go."
When they landed, Hermione lost her balance and quickly fell to the ground. Reuben's laughter caused her to glare. "Well, Hermione, are you ready to see your new home?" He helped her up.
The young witch let out a small gasp. In front of her stood a modestly sized cabin that looked breathtaking nestled in the snowy woods. There was already smoke billowing out of the home's chimney, reminding her just how cold she was getting.
"Hermione?" Reuben quietly got her attention. When she looked over he was offering her his arm. Smiling she took it and allowed him to lead her up the slick pathway.
Before they had reached the porch the door flew open and Dotty came walking out tutting at the approaching group. "Dotty can't believe Masters Rue and Nino didn't offer the poor cold girl their jackets. Probably didn't do a warming charm either, did you?" Her ears moved wildly as she shook her head. "Your mothers would have been appalled at your manners. Well, get yourselves in here. Dotty's soup is almost ready to eat. It'll warm you right up." She ushered them in, gently swatting at Antonin and Reuben as they passed.
The cosy interior of the cabin was not what Hermione had been expecting for the childhood home of a pureblood wizard. They entered into an open moderately large room. To her right was the kitchen. A pot sat atop an old wood stove boiling what she assumed was Dotty's soup. The counter of the kitchen was littered with canisters and wooden box. Looking out the window above the leaking sink she could see an area for a small garden behind the house, and to the left of that sat a dilapidated wooden swing.
Hearing her name brought her attention back inside the cabin. Turning to her right, she was shocked to see Sirius grinning at her. He was lazily lounging on a couch, his feet propped on the small table that sat between the couch and the roaring fireplace. "Hey Kitten, what took you so long?"
She found his grin contagious. "Oh you know, when you're a fugitive you have to travel a bit more carefully. Oh! This is for you," she held out the no longer needed cloak.
"Don't I know it?" His bark of laughter caused Antonin to glare, which only incited more laughter. Moving toward her, he took the cloak before he wrapped her in a warm hug. "I'm glad you made it here safely, Kitten, I've been a worried mess since the three of you left." He leaned down and placed a gentle kiss in her curls. Once again receiving a glare from Antonin that only went unnoticed by Hermione.
Reuben cleared his throat, "Hermione, while Dotty finishes up the soup I can give you a quick tour if you'd like."
As soon as the two were upstairs Sirius turned toward Antonin. "I've said it before, and I will say it again, Dolohov. If you so much as make her feel uncomfortable I will end you in the most creative way I can find."
Antonin sneered, "don't worry, dog, your "kitten" is safe from me. I'd sooner die than have your seconds anyway."
Sirius' retort was cut off by a small voice, "Dotty thinks Master Sirius better be telling young Miss goodbye so that Dotty can take him back to Yaxley Manor. And both gentlemen should be remembering that no good comes from stressing out a young pregnant witch."
Sirius glared at the creature for a moment before stomping up the stairs to find Hermione and Yaxley.
Once he was sure Dotty and Sirius were gone Antonin made his was up the stairs as well. He found Hermione alone in his childhood bedroom, unpacking her bag. Not wanting to startle her, he knocked on the open door, but he couldn't help but smirk when she still jumped.
"Sorry to disturb you, but you are in the wrong room. I've prepared the room at the end of the hall for you."
She cocked her head to the side. "Reuben said that was the master bedroom?"
He nodded, "it is, but I thought you might be more comfortable in there. I must insist you accept my hospitality."
"Thank you, that is very kind."
"Careful Hermione," Reuben laughed as he entered the room. "Antonin doesn't want people to know he's going soft." He winked at her.
"Fuck off Yax." Antonin rolled his eyes. "I just don't want to listen to her complain about the smaller bed. Merlin knows I'm already the villain. I don't need her causing me any more trouble. Besides," he added as an afterthought, "that's the only room that has room for a cradle."
The ill-tempered man turned to leave the room, but stopped at the door. "The soup is done." Without another thought about the occupants in the room he left them alone.
"I don't understand him," Hermione broke the silence several minutes later. "In one minute he seems like a normal person who thinks of others needs, then the next he's angry and-"
"Kind of a dick?" Reuben laughed. "Antonin is a complicated individual. He's had a hard life. Be patient with him." He put an arm around her shoulder. "Now, lets get your things to your room so we can get you some soup."
Silence fell over the room as Harry entered the Library of Number 12 Grimmauld Place. He didn't notice as he moved to take his seat. It was only when he asked Neville if he'd seen Sirius that he noticed the tension in the room.
"Why is everyone staring at me?" he asked no one in particular.
Dumbledore stood and cleared his throat. "Harry, I'm afraid I have bad news." he paused and took a deep breath. "This morning while making rounds of our safe houses Kingsley found that someone had broken into one of them, someone who had intimate knowledge of not only their location but also their wards."
"What does this have to do with Sirius?" Harry furrowed his brow.
"Harry," this time it was Kingsley speaking. "Sirius is dead." He held out the invisibility cloak to Harry.
"What? No, you're wrong." he shook as he gripped the cloak that he'd leant to Sirius.
"Sirius is dead, Harry," Dumbledore put a hand on Harry's shoulder "and Hermione is responsible."