Chapter 23: Dangers, and Decisions

Over the next week, Sirius, Hermione, and Harry were careful not to form any kind of pattern in their daily lives. If they were being watched, there wasn't any way someone could find a routine. They never went anywhere at the same time, they didn't eat at a regular time and no one even went to bed or woke at a specific time. When they did go out they were always accompanied by at least one of the order guards. Others didn't always see them but they were there.

Hermione, Ginny, Alyssa, Alexia and Hermione's muggle school friend Stacey were trying on dresses at the Bridal Shop when a strange older lady approached them. She looked straight at Hermione and whispered. "You are the future wife of Sirius Black, no?" When the young witch nodded the strange woman continued. "Danger is all around you, around him. Nothing can protect him now noting!" The old woman wheezed before she turned, exited, and vanished before anyone could say anything.

No one had heard what was said but they saw Hermione turn white and slump into a chair. Alexia was the first one to her. "Hermione, what's wrong? What did that woman say to you?"

She pulled herself together. "She told me danger is all around Sirius and I, that nothing could protect him. I need to make sure he's alright." Hermione pulled out her cell phone and dialed as Ginny went to get the Order guard who was just outside. There was no answer at home, hanging up Hermione dialed Sirius' cell number. He'd protested against getting one for himself, but both she and Harry had argued that if they had to have one so did he.

After what seemed like an eternity Sirius answered. "Hi, love. What's up?"

Trying her best to stay calm Hermione said. "Just picking out dresses. Are you all right?"

"I'm fine, why wouldn't I be? Has something happened there?" He asked, looking at Remus.

She didn't want to alarm him, but she wanted him to stay on his toes. "Well yes, this strange old lady cornered me in the dress shop. She asked if I was your future wife, she said danger was all around you and me. She then said nothing could protect you now. Sirius, please be careful. It may be nothing, it may be some one trying to scare me, but promise me you won't take any unnecessary chances?" 

By this time Remus was listening as best he could with Sirius. "I promise. I'll be careful. Where is your guard?"

"He was right outside, but he's here now." She said looking at Kingsley Shackelbolt.

Sirius let out a frustrated sigh. "He is to be with you at all times. If you are trying on dresses, I want him outside your dressing room. I want you and the others safe. I may be a little late getting home. I want to talk to Grandfather, he's at headquarters."

"All right, but be careful. I love you." She said before hanging up.

"I love you too." Sirius hung up his phone and he and Remus headed for 12 Grimmuald Place.

When the two men arrived at the headquarters for The Order of the Phoenix, Albus Dumbledore was just about to leave. Sirius told him what had happened and asked if he had any more information.

"I was on my way to meet Severus when you arrived." The elderly wizard noted. "Go home and Remus go with him. I'll find Severus to see what he knows and we will meet you there." Sirius nodded, hugged his grandfather and everyone went their separate ways.

Thirty minutes later Sirius and Remus walked through the front door of the house Sirius shared with Hermione and Harry.  Hermione and the girls had already arrived and were sitting at the dinning room table talking to Ron, Harry, Tonks and Mundungus. Alexia stood and wrapped her arms around Remus as they entered the room.

Sirius looked around the room, but moved to stand behind Hermione putting his hand firmly on her shoulder. "Are all of you okay?" When he was assured things were fine, he sat next to his future wife and took her hand. "Tell me what this old woman looked like."

"I don't know. She was a little shorter than me, gray hair. It's too hard to tell. I was surprised and she had a scarf down on her eyes." Hermione looked at the others and asked. "Did any of you get a good look at her?" No one saw what the old lady looked like, or they could only give the same description that Hermione gave.

Sirius let out an aggravated growl, but seeing the look on Hermione's face he quickly pulled her into a tight embrace. "It's okay. We'll figure it all out." He thought for a while still holding her. Before he could say anything else, a loud pop came from the library followed by another. Everyone ran to see what it was.

Rounding the doorway, they saw Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape. Seeing who it was Alexia stepped forward looking at Ginny and Ron. "Maybe we should go in the other room and let them talk."

Sirius laughed his bark like laugh. "Why? If Remus is with you like I am with Hermione he'll tell you everything that's said and I know Harry will tell Ginny and Ron. Everyone might as well have a seat and hear it first hand."

Once everyone was seated, Dumbledore began. "Severus, here, has some new information. I'll just let him tell you."

Now it was Snape's turn. "There has been another meeting between Malfoy and his group. No one understands why the dementors are having no effect him, but somehow he seems to still be in control. The latest news from the inside is that he is ready to make a move, though his people have been told they are not to touch Ms. Granger or Mr. Potter. From what I've been able to gather, they are strictly out to get Black. That is not to say that if Potter or Granger got in the way of them getting to Sirius, that they won't get hurt."

"Let me see if I have this right." Hermione chimed in sliding to the edge of her seat feeling very uneasy and angry. "Malfoy is in control of a group of former Deatheaters and this group is after Sirius, just because he is Headmaster Dumbledore's grandson?" She looked at Dumbledore, then to Sirius. "How did he find out about the relationship between the two? Can anyone tell me that?"

Sirius began to rub her back in an effort to calm her, only to have his hand shrugged off. "Hermione, love, calm down. You know how hard it is to keep a secret in the wizarding world."

"I don't want to calm down." She looked at him with daggers in her eyes, then back at the others. "I don't like this one bit. I thought when we got rid of Voldemort we were through with all this, that the wizarding world would be safe again."

This time it was Dumbledore's turn to speak. "Ms. Granger, the wizarding world isn't so different from the muggle world. No matter how good you think it is there are those who will try and hurt others. There is crime everywhere. Just because Voldemort was defeated doesn't mean someone doesn't want to hurt someone else. This time it's just that the someone is Malfoy and the someone he wants to destroy is Sirius. Someone we both love."

Hermione was distressed; and, she was tired of feeling like she always had to be looking over her shoulder. She was tired of Sirius always being in some sort of danger. She wanted a normal life. The only thing she wanted to worry about was her wedding. Now all of this was upon here. She stood and left the room. Molly stood to follow her out but felt Sirius reach for her hand to stop her. He shook his head and Molly sat back down. He knew she needed to be alone right now. She'd figure it all out on her own.

Hermione went to her room, flopped down on her bed, and began to cry. She knew she was acting silly but she needed to get it all out. Not sure how long she'd been in there, she finally heard the members of order leave. She also knew it wouldn't be long before someone came up to check on her. She was sure it would be Sirius, but she didn't want to talk to him right now. She had a lot to think about.

Fifteen minutes later there was a knock on her door. "Hermione love, are you okay? Can I come in?" Sirius asked through the door.

Wiping her eyes she walked over and opened the door. As he stepped through, she turned her back to him. Her planner was opened and thrown on the floor. The date they had reserved for their wedding was crossed out. "I'm fine. I just need to be alone for a while. I need to think about some things."

Sirius bent and picked up the date book tossing it next to her on the bed. "What's this? Have you changed your mind? Have you decided you don't want to get married? You don't want to marry me?" He stressed me.

Hermione wasn't sure what she heard in his voice. It wasn't anger it wasn't pain. He was very quiet and monotone. The tone was like none she'd ever heard from him before. "I don't know. Right now I don't know anything except that I want to be alone. Maybe I should go stay with my parents for a while." She didn't once look at him. She didn't see the wounded expression on his face.

"Do what you want to do." Sirius didn't say anything else he just walked out and closed the door. When he reached the library Remus was holding a drink for him. "How is she?" his best friend asked sitting next to Alexia.

"She's fine. Just needs some time to think." He thanked Remus for the drink and went out into the garden. Since the day he'd bought this house the garden was his favorite place. He always found comfort in the plants and flowers. The soft ripple of the fountain seemed to relax his mind and help him think. That's what he needed now was to think. He had to make some decisions.

Alexia and Remus sat and talked always keeping an eye on Sirius. Each knew something was not right. Alexia hadn't been around either of them much but she was a good judge of character. She knew Sirius was not telling everything that had happened upstairs. When dinnertime came Hermione refused to come out telling Molly she wasn't hungry and wanted to go to bed early.  Sirius sat in the dinning room with the others, but pushed his food around on his plate. After a while he excused himself and went to his room.

The darkness of night wrapped itself around him like a plastic bag. He thought he would suffocate if he lay there any longer. He had to do something. He couldn't let Malfoy destroy his life. At this point his happiness was on the line. No one had ever made him as happy as loving Hermione and being loved by her. He was in danger of losing that. Sitting up he listened for noises downstairs. He heard none. Slowly he headed to the library. Again he looked around and listened making sure he was alone. When he was sure, he called for Snape.

The two talked for several minutes ending with Severus Snape shaking his head and saying. "You are a fool, Black."

"Maybe you're right. Maybe I am, but I have to do something; and, I'm doing this with or without you. Now are you going to help me or not?"  Sirius asked with determination.

Snape looked like he was going to say no, but nodded his head. "Bloody Hell, Black. Alright, I'll be there in 10 minutes." Snape's head disappeared.

Sirius smiled to himself. He went upstairs to change, and then he quietly snuck into Hermione's room. He planted a soft kiss on her forehead, whispered, "I love you." He then turned and made his way back downstairs.

Severus Snape arrived in preciously 10 minutes. "Are you sure this is what you want to do? This may not be the best idea you've ever had. This may not even be the best worst idea you've ever had. This is asking for more trouble."

Sirius smiled at his long time enemy. "Just think how proud Grandfather will be we are working together. Let's go."

 "Some how I don't think this is what he had in mind." Snape said as the exited the house into the dark London night.