Hermione breathed as splashed in the bathtub. What a wash of a day. At least Hermione found out that Fred could cook a mean roast. There was a ridiculous amount of undertoned bickering.

"Hermione," Sirius knocked on the door.

"Go away, Sirius. I'm attempting to relax," Hermione growled.

"I have lavender aromatherapy and chocolate," He whined.

Hermione groaned and reached for her wand, swiping it toward the door. "Fine," she snapped while closing the curtain.

The door creaked, and Sirius hummed. "Love, don't be angry with me."

"You embarrassed me and hurt my foot," she grumbled.

A tray of chocolates floated from above, and Hermione pinched her lips from smiling. She took a chocolate and popped it into her mouth. The curtain opened slightly at the other end, and his hands appeared. "Prop them up."

"Don't you dare stick your head in," Hermione warned as she put her feet on the lip of the tub.

"Won't dare after I heard what you said to Snivellus," Sirius snickered as he started to massage her feet.

Hermione laughed and groaned. "He deserved a bit of a reality check. I'm not here to be anyone's mother."

Sirius was quiet as he rubbed her toes.

"Are you alright?" Hermione asked.

"Love, I overheard something earlier," He admitted.

Hermione finished eating a chocolate and scowled. "What did you hear?"

"That you can't have children," Sirius murmured.

"Oh," Hermione whispered. "You didn't overhear, Remus told you. When?"

"I swear he didn't. We have a special connection," Sirius declared.

"I see."

Sirius worked on her feet a little bit longer. "I'm sorry."

"Me too," Hermione voiced.

"I just want to let you know, that doesn't make you any less a witch," Sirius declared.

Hermione flexed her toes and moaned. "Well, that's not what people would say. That isn't what Ron would have either."

"Well, you're a wonderful woman. Don't let that eat you up."

"Sirius, why don't you tell me a secret since you know one of mine," Hermione offered.

Sirius smirked as he rubbed her left ankle. "I wanted to get married in my seventh year. I was so jealous of James. He finally found someone, a witch no less, who loved him unconditionally. When he told me that he was going to marry her out of school the summer after graduation, I realized it."

"Is this just a ploy to get me to forgive you?" Hermione teased.

Sirius sighed and ran his fingers up her calf. "No, unfortunately not."

"I find you charming and not because of your flirtations, Sirius," Hermione said.

"Do you mind that we knew you before?" Sirius questioned.

Hermione was silent as she maneuvered in the tub. "No, actually. I find it easier because I know you."

"How does that make this any easier?"

"Because I know I'm not alone. Each one of you has something to gain from a new life. Even you," Hermione murmured and enjoyed his hands rubbing her calves.

"Even you?"

"This is a remarkably nice apology, Sirius," Hermione sighed.

"You're dodging," he added while tugging her legs out further.

Hermione moved in the tub and rubbed her face. "Yes, I know. I don't know what I get from all this."

Sirius poked his face through the curtain and grinned at her. Hermione huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. The water was white and hid her tender bits, but Sirius winked. "If you let me climb in, I'll scrub your back."

"You broke my stipulation," She grumbled.

"I can't see anything, I knew you had tinted the water," He snickered.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "You're ridiculous."

"And I think you miss this," Sirius voiced as he went back to rubbing her feet after getting more oil.

"Miss what?"

"Miss companionship," Sirius mused. "I don't need to shag you for you to feel fulfillment."

Hermione pinched her lips together and tilted her head. "I don't remember this Sirius."

"You'd be surprised, I had some pretty emotionally balanced friends," Sirius said with a grin.

"Balanced friends? You mean the witty werewolf, the dorky Potter and," She stopped when he smacked her calf lightly.

"Don't be snide, that job was taken up by Snivellus," Sirius voiced.

Hermione reached for a chocolate and winked. "You never know," she said before eating it.

Sirius chuckled as he reached for her towel. "Come on, let's get you relaxed and some rest."

The witch climbed from the bathtub as Sirius turned his gaze from her. He wasn't stupid. The animagus knew that, even though his boyish tendencies reigned most of his actions, this was a bloody test. Hermione took the towel from him and hemmed. "So, did you still want to come drink a glass of wine with me and talk?"

He smirked at the witch in the purple fluffy towel. "If you want."

"Fred is going to want to hear some of your stories," She mused.

Sirius barked out a loud laugh as he stood up. "Whatever makes the house work well, love."


The next morning was near chaos. Remus had already started making breakfast by the time Hermione traversed down. Fred and Sirius were sitting at the counter and going over what they saw in the store. She decided to leave them alone with a smile breaching her lips. She liked that Sirius was talking to Fred like he had Harry many years ago.

The witch climbed up the staircase and searched the floors with minor amusement. Where was the Potion Master? Her study was open. Had she forgotten to lock it? Hermione exhaled as she went into the room. Severus was already brewing the Wolfsbane Potion, and he was in a buttoned-up black shirt.

"Miss Granger," he grumbled while measuring out the grounded powder.

"Severus, you can call me Hermione. It's too reminiscent for you to be so formal," Hermione responded.

He eyed her from the corner of his sight before tossing the white ingredient in the potion. Snape flicked his wand, and the spoon stirred as he fixed the gloves. Hermione paced forward and watched the man work. He looked familiar, but his eyes weren't as hollow.

"Am I as you remember?" He asked while chopping the Monkshood.

Hermione rocked her head. "Very much. I'm not happy that you don't have your memories, however. You did some horrible things in your youth, but you repented through your years of service."

Snape's lips twitched as his nose flared. "Well, little good that did you. You still ended up here."

"I would like us to be friends, Severus. It's going to be difficult for you. Seeing the wreckage of a war you participated in is rough," Hermione said.

"I don't work well with others," He responded before tossing the ingredient into the cauldron.

"Interestingly, you gravitated to a subject that required ingredients to cooperate to work to full potential."

Snape cracked a tiny smile. "You were Gryffindor? That's an interesting muse."

"You were fond of Lily, and she was," Hermione rested against the edge of the desk.

"Different story entirely," He huffed. "I met her in our youth."

"Still proves my point. Friends are needed when life gets difficult."

Severus flicked his wand again, and the spoon started to move counterclockwise. He turned his lanky form to her and arched an eyebrow. "Friends? Those fools were my folly."

Hermione narrowed her gaze and crossed her arms over her chest. "They were not. You were your own and to believe that hurting others for power was needed. They participated in your malformed belief by harassing you. I will not defend their actions. They were vicious boys, but I won't let you place blame on them for your own actions."

Severus thinned his lips. "Then what? Accept that they will never be apologetic for their actions?"

"They will. The boy that participated in my worst days at Hogwarts eventually did," she paused at his groan. "But only after I accepted that I didn't need his apology. It wouldn't change me either way. That was when he showed his regret, and we could speak as one person to another without judgment."

"That's ridiculous," Snape hissed.

Hermione shook her head. "No, that's life. Draco Malfoy and I are very much accepting of each other's faults now and can communicate. Maybe not with the most clarity or agreement, but we know where each of us stands. He's held a few secrets for me since as well."

"Malfoy? Narcissa's son? He is alright?" Severus asked.

Hermione nodded. "His wife is sickly, so I've been trying to get him some restrictive volumes for him to find her a cure."

"Why?"

"Because that's what it means to move on, Severus. We may never be best friends, but we know that if the world was going to shit, like it is, we would cover each other's backs."

Snape bent toward her with a narrow stare. "What remarkable secrets. I would suggest you tell me why Alchemy is the single item in your mind when you think of Draco Malfoy."

Hermione held up her index finger. "Don't."

His smirk hinted, impish delight. "If you tell me, I won't have to delve. Tell me."

"I'm warning you," she growled.

"Tell me, Hermione. Now," Snape ordered.

Hermione winced and broke eye contact with him. "I don't want to."

He took her face in his hands, forcing her to meet his eyes. Severus focused, and Hermione squirmed. It didn't last. She pulled away, and Snape's mouth fell open.

"You foolish witch," He huffed.

Hermione dropped her gaze as her cheeks darkened. "Don't, please."

"Do you have any idea what you could have done? You could have killed yourself. Worse, you could have birthed a monster like Voldemort!" Severus hissed.

Hermione snapped her vision at him while she growled. "I know that! I was desperate and needed an answer! Do you know what it's like to feel damaged and ruined? A bloody curse ruined it for me, and I just needed an answer."

Snape touched her shoulder, and the expression on his face eased her anger. "I'm sorry, but I was concerned. I see what is on these notes, Hermione. This is dangerous working. Draco must be quite skilled to brew this potion."

"He is. He agreed to do it for me because I granted him clearance to request copies of the history of the blood curse on his wife."

"Are you damaged from it?"

Hermione shook her head and sighed. "No, it just made me ill after."

Severus arched an eyebrow and scratched his chin. "Just between us, did it do what you needed it to?"

"I don't know," Hermione huffed with pink cheeks. "My husband left me a month later."

"Interesting," Snape murmured and turned to the work on her desk. "How did you come across all these old texts?"

"Many years of digging," Hermione declared as she paced next to him. "I heard of it and never studied Alchemy, so I asked Draco. He pointed me in the direction."

Severus picked up a few pieces of parchment before hemming. "I'd like to be reintroduced. I have some questions for Mr. Malfoy."

"I'll see what I can do," Hermione sighed.

Severus raised his hand and thought a moment before touching her back. "I shall help you with this and the crisis if you make me a promise."

Hermione glanced up at him and twitched her nose. "What?"

"Promise me not to take potions you don't understand the consequences for. Understood?"

"Okay, I promise," Hermione replied.

"Good, now I have to finish this potion for Lupin. Why don't you see if you can rouse some motivation in the Gryffindor wizards? I have to finish this so it can simmer for six hours."

Hermione pivoted and smiled with a nod. "Thank you, Severus. It's the small actions that mean more than words of kindness. I appreciate it."

"Don't depend on my niceties, Hermione. I still don't trust that they will retain proper mannerisms to solve this," Severus grumbled.

"That's alright. I can handle them," She beamed. "After all, I likely know more about each one of you than you do. I understand."

He rocked his head and dropped his hand. "Well, back to work."

"Get some breakfast after. We have work to do," Hermione commanded and moved to the door.

"Thank you," Snape murmured.

Hermione turned to him and nodded. "I know, Severus. It doesn't have to be so complex if you trust me."

"I'll think about it," He responded, turning back to the cauldron.

The witch closed the study door and breathed. She might have to sift through her own ghosts if she were going to keep them all cordial. That caused her deep breath to escape her. What if this all really was her fault?