The darker room wasn't a clue as the sat down playing poker. It was a chilled room that had an eerie feeling of familiar. Neither one of them questioned the feeling- that would have been a door they didn't want to open while captive. Speaking of doors, they tried the large barrier several times, but it was locked. It was an odd circumstance, and the curtain's glow was the only light they honestly had.
"I want a huge steak," Remus grumbled as he placed down his hand.
Sirius huffed as he set down his. "Stop, Moony; you're making me hungry."
Sirius collected the pebbles they were betting and shuffled the cards back into the deck of cards. They'd been here for a decent length of time — no welcome. No explanation. Neither marauder had any idea why they were here. The last thing Sirius remembered was graduation. He was positive there was more. He felt there was, but no one was there to ask.
"Padfoot, do you think James knows were here?" Remus asked.
The animagus shifted and flicked his wand. The clock face declared it was eight-forty-five in the morning. Remus groaned and relaxed against the stone. His anxiety was what trembled through the air. Sirius set aside the card deck and launched himself next to Remus.
"Don't you worry. Whatever happened, we can do this," Sirius grumbled.
Remus scrubbed his eyes and breathed. "You remember learning about the Veil?"
"Mhm," Sirius grunted.
"I think we're in the Hall of Mysteries," Remus murmured as his eyes stared up into the darkness. "I vaguely remember the details of the Death Chamber."
"Let's wait to jump to conclusions until James comes and gets us. He knows we're here- there's no way he didn't feel it," Sirius responded.
"I feel older, Pads," Remus whispered.
Sirius reached over and touched Remus's hand. "Me too, Moony. I think we can get through this together, alright?"
They remained in the dim silence for some time before creaking struck the large doors. Remus stiffened, and the audible sound of his nose working was urgent. The sconces around the room brightened as clacking of heels on stones echoed.
"Who just leaves their job. Despicable," A feminine voice hissed. "Of all the irresponsible, selfish things. We're in a crisis."
Remus and Sirius both sat up to see a strange witch with wild curly hair walking around the room. Her wand was flicking as she was staring down at a lengthy piece of parchment. It was as if time had stopped- the stranger's eyes met their forms. Her wand stopped glowing, and her tanned face grew pale.
Remus climbed to his feet, and the woman dropped her parchment. "Hello," he said.
Sirius sprung to action and stood. "What he said," he chuckled.
"Remus? Sirius?" Her voice was a shuddered sound. "Is, is that you?"
The marauders glanced at each other. "Yes, actually," Remus voiced as he gazed back at the stranger.
The witch was nearly sprinting toward them, causing the wizards to hold out their wands. "Hold up, love! We don't know you and aren't up for a wand fight." Sirius warned.
Hermione jerked to a halt, and she dropped her wand to her side. "Sirius, do you remember me?"
"Miss," Remus hemmed.
"Hermione Granger," She finished for him.
Remus nodded and breathed. "Miss Granger, we don't have a clue as to what's going on. Excuse our leery reaction."
Hermione's eyebrows pinched as she thinned her lips. "Remus, you don't remember me, do you?"
"The last thing either of us remembers is graduating. By the looks of you, Moony, we're a bit further out from that," Sirius relaxed as he lowered his wand.
"How long have you been in here?" Hermione questioned.
"Two days, maybe?" Remus offered.
The witch shifted in her pressed suit and touched a finger to her chin. "That's peculiar. You both are Sirius Black and Remus Lupin?"
They nodded.
Hermione glanced back behind her and then around the room. "How?"
"Bugger if we know," Sirius snorted. "This is that Death room, yes? Did we die?"
Remus arched an eyebrow as he turned to Sirius, still not dropping his wand. "Good question, Pads."
Her reaction was instantaneous. She curled her shoulders and folded her arms around her. "Yes."
"How long ago? This is quite unprecedented," Remus remarked.
The witch was pinching the inside of her lower lip between her teeth. "Several years ago. Longer for Sirius. It was during the last war."
"Last war? Meaning more than one? Where's James?" Sirius asked.
Hermione held out a hand with her palm facing them. "First things first. The vital piece of information is, how are you here?"
"It's baffled us as well. By your quick divergence, it seems there's more to this story than just a simple answer," Remus sighed.
Sirius rose an eyebrow before approaching the witch. "So, we're starving," he declared, holding out his hand.
Hermione smiled and took his hand with a shake. "Let's fix that, Sirius. Do you like pancakes? I can take you back to Grimmauld and make you some breakfast."
"Grimmauld? As in 12 Grimmauld Place? I don't feel interested in seeing my parents, love," Sirius scoffed.
Hermione shifted her posture, and her hand went to the side of her neck. "I live there now. Harry, let me live there while I've been working on things for the Ministry of Magic."
"Harry?" Both marauders asked.
She ran her fingers over her face and pressed them to her temple. "This is going to be a difficult summary of the last two decades."
"Two decades? Love, you kind of have us by the ballocks. Can we get a bit of information before we leave this place?" Sirius questioned.
Hermione wandered back to her abandoned parchment and waved her wand, producing a silvery otter. "Minister, I have a situation. Please stand by for information- I need to head home."
The otter drifted a moment before swimming off through the doorway. Hermione pivoted back toward the marauders and breathed. "Some hot chocolate and breakfast?"
Sirius smirked back at the suspicious werewolf. "She has us pegged, doesn't she?"
Remus narrowed his view at Sirius before nodding in the slightest. "Seems so. We don't have much of a choice, now do we?"
"Nope," Sirius huffed and shifted his coat with a grimace. "These threads are ragged, aren't they?"
"Please don't start that," Remus fussed before pocketing his wand. "Let's have something to eat. I'm starving."
Hermione nodded and waved. "Don't be surprised. I'm the only one here this early. It's quite empty in the ministry these days."
The marauders glanced at each other before scowling. There was more to this story than just a simple recount. They followed the strange witch with trepidation and angst breaching their demeanor. It was going to be a day they wouldn't forget- that was most certain.
The witch was a unique person. It was evident even with her ease in the kitchen of 12 Grimmauld Place. Sirius and Remus sat on stools at the counter as she cooked on the stovetop. She wasn't using magic, nor was she compelled to snatch her wand from the space next to her. Hermione Granger was a short, professionally dressed ministry witch by any other standard. This woman held an air about her that declared she was pragmatic and fierce.
Remus wasn't convinced they could trust her. Sirius knew that and could feel the werewolf's wheels turning as the silence was thick in the room. Hermione attempted to poke around about what they remembered, but they gave her little. They wanted answers prior to revealing information.
"Why are you here?" Sirius finally asked.
"It's safer here. I came here just under a year ago when the world grew chaotic," Hermione responded without turning to them.
"What happened? Did Voldemort take over?" Sirius pried.
Hermione turned with a spatula in hand and a pinched expression. "No, Harry defeated him twelve years ago," she sighed.
"Who?" Remus asked.
"Harry Potter," Hermione reiterated.
Remus's frown tightened. "As in…"
"James's son," Hermione voiced. "James and Lily had a son in 1980."
The marauders glanced at each other. "Well," Sirius grumbled.
"I was one of Harry's friend's in Hogwarts. We went through school fending off the forces that concluded in our seventh year," Hermione murmured.
Remus cleared his throat. "Are you telling me that Harry Potter is thirty years old? We're missing roughly thirty years of our life?"
"Yes," Hermione confirmed with a nod.
Sirius twitched his nose. "And where's James?"
"He's," Hermione faltered.
"He's dead," Remus said with a flat tone.
Hermione rocked her head. "I'm sorry. It was when Harry was an infant."
"And that means Lily is gone too…" Sirius trailed off with his eyes closed.
She turned to take the pancakes off the griddle and plopped down plates in front of them. They were beautiful and slathered in butter. Hermione then brought over the plate of bacon and stood across from the marauders as they gazed down at their food. It was a moment of somber thought and recollection.
"Where's Harry?" Remus questioned.
Hermione breathed as she strolled around the counter to a stack of papers. When she set the old edition to the Daily Prophet in front of them, they felt the wind knocked from them. 'Magic has left most of the World in an upheaval worse than the war!' It was an article that seemed panicked and confused by the sudden changes in their world. Remus couldn't read on because the witch cleared her throat, bringing them back to the present.
"He's missing his magic, there's only a few of us left," Hermione whispered.
Sirius scrutinized the witch who seemed quite even-keeled for what she just announced. "How long ago was this?"
"A year ago, yesterday," Hermione replied.
"What can we do?" Remus asked before reaching for the syrup on the counter.
Hermione breathed with a small curl to her lips. "I'm relieved to hear you say that, Professor. You can help me find out how to bring it back."
"Professor?" Sirius snorted. "Quite furry of you, Professor Moony."
"Padfoot," Remus grumbled.
"A bit of a hairy situation this is, isn't it?" Sirius continued.
"Padfoot," Remus said with more force.
"How in the bloody world were you a professor at Hogwarts?"
Hermione leaned on the counter and smiled at them. "He was quite good. Best DADA teacher we ever had. Even with his condition."
Remus turned to the witch and attempted to hide the pink breaching his cheeks. "I appreciate the compliment. Though, I do have to question the motives of Albus when I see him."
"Let's eat breakfast, and I'll have Kingsley come over for a visit. He'll need to clear you both. I already broke regulations by bringing you back here," she said while standing from her bent position.
Sirius took a bite and moaned. "Love, you cook like this, and I will be begging for seconds."
"You're such a mutt, Padfoot," Remus huffed.
Hermione nodded once and straightened her jacket. "I need to do a bit of work while I'm home. If you need anything, I'll be in the drawing-room."
Sirius pointed his fork at Hermione. "You, witch, are my new favorite person. Feeding us and breaking the rules, my type of girl."
"I'll be going," Hermione said with a firm tone before marching from the room.
Remus rolled his eyes at the grinning animagus and glanced down at the paper. There was much to be said about a world losing its magic. That is a far frightening concept than a wizard deadset on eradicating muggles. This was going to be strenuous on top of lost memories. He hoped they were ready.
