Welcome, welcome, everyone! If this is your first time here, I'm honored you're considering my story. If you're returning, it's an absolute pleasure to have you back. This fic was something I dabbled with writing for a while, but finally, put pen to paper and stuck with it. It's not perfect by any means, it's my first story, but this story means a lot to me and I hope you enjoy the wild ride. While, yes, it is a time travel story - I put a spin on my version of it and I'm pretty dang proud of it.

This story will have you on a roller coaster of emotions, but overall it's a fun, steamy, sassy, badass, story with hilarious characters. Please be mindful of the tags. If I have missed any you believe should be listed, please notify me.

*11/16/22- The AO3 version is fully updated, gone through a major grammar fluidity overhaul. I will eventually translate that over here, but if you prefer to read a more buttoned up version, I would read over on AO3 (same username: sdsea44)

I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THE CHARACTERS IN THIS STORY!

May 2nd, 1998

One Hour Prior

Unknown Location

Silence.

My mind gradually began to regain consciousness.

Sluggishly, my mind —taking an excruciating amount of time to sharpen— felt murky, like coming out of deep sleep but still not entirely awake.

My body was aching, and I had no energy to protest; I succumbed to the feeling. Eventually, I faded back into unconsciousness.

Hours passed as the unconscious witch remained still, sprawled across the floor. The only sign of life she gave was her shallow chest movement.

Present

Unknown Location

Where am I?

As my senses slowly returned, I acknowledged it was far too quiet.

Curious.

The last memory I recall was battling with Harry and Ron to get to the Shrieking Shack to find Voldemort.

Where? How?

Alright, Hermione, let's process this clinically.

Deep breath now... That's it.

In and out.

No evident strain, punctures, contusions… Brilliant.

Lungs, check.

Now, move your fingers and toes a little... That's it.

Thank bloody Merlin, alright.

Mobility, check.

Blink, Hermione, there you go. Now slowly open your eyes; let's see how your vision is faring—

My eyes creaked open, and I found myself immersed in darkness.

Unhurriedly, I moved my neck to my right to peek at my surroundings.

It was almost pitch black around me, yet I could sense I had to be at least partially outdoors.

I inhaled deeply through my nose to smell my surroundings. I recognized the smell of fresh air, felt the subtle kiss of a breeze blowing against my skin, and heard the sound of a slow drip coming from a few feet away—

My mind concentrated on the fact that it was much too quiet here to be anywhere near the Hogwarts grounds.

As my vision adjusted to the darkness, I noticed a small opening roughly fifteen meters in front of my body.

Peering through the rough edges of the opening, I squinted, attempting to focus my hazy vision on what lies ahead. Then, sharpening in on the entrance, I discovered the night sky littered with stars through the unobstructed view.

A cave— It must be. Fuck.

"Where am I?" I mumbled to myself, my voice echoing throughout the cavern walls.

The panic began to set in further as I processed that I was no longer near the school.

Long gone were the piercing sounds of battle cries, violent spells ripping through the air like a morbid light show, and the putrid stench of blood.

Am I still in Scotland?

How did I get here?

Where are…

Harry… Ron, no… NO!

Before my impending spiral peaked, I heard a rustle of motion in the corner.

I am not alone—

Sluggish, heavy footsteps made their way closer to where I lay in the cave's depths.

My chest constricted, and my breathing shortened. I awkwardly scrambled backwards on my hands as the footsteps approached me.

Then, suddenly, I collided with the rough edges of the cave wall.

Trapped. I'm bloody trapped.

I pressed my back as far as I could into the wall, my spine screaming in resistance, but the adrenaline rushing through my body refused to acknowledge the pain.

With nowhere to run in the enclosure and my body paralyzed by fear, I froze as I saw the dark, shapeless mass slowly develop an outline.

As it inched closer, my eyes concentrated through the darkness as the mass transformed into a man's silhouette.

It was a good life while it lasted, Hermione.

Now within a few meters of my body, the wizard halted.

His hunched-over body wobbled as he arrived at a complete standstill. Then, after a few moments of gathering himself, he took a few steps towards me, closing the gap between our bodies.

I winced when his right hand reached towards me, but, to my shock, he did not grab onto me. Instead, he bypassed my person and pressed his palm flat against the wall, using it to steady himself before lowering himself to the ground. Then, struggling as if injured, he gradually eased down to his knees and leaned back on his heels, head tilted down, gazing at the floor.

After a few moments, he took a deep breath and slowly raised his head to meet my terrified gaze.

Breaking out of the paralyzing state I've found myself in, I quickly slammed my eyes shut for fear of my captor using Legilimency.

I know, I know… Eye contact isn't always needed, but I'm shit at Occlumency.

So it's worth a shot, right?

I grazed my hand down my jumper and began frantically feeling around my pockets in search of my wand, but frustratingly realized it was not there.

Captured… without your wand… fan-fucking-tastic job, Hermione.

Harry needs you, and you manage to get yourself taken and held wandless? Moody would be so pissed.

Snapping me out of my spiralling self-loathing, a deep voice from the wizard in front of me cleared their throat and quietly whispered, "Lumos."

"Thank Salazar, you're awake," The unidentifiable wizard gruffed with relief.

Does he sound… relieved?

Have to say, not at all the reaction I was expecting… but remember, Constant Vigilance!

As I processed this development further, my eyes flung open to get a better look at this wizard.

I examined his features, my mind taking seconds before they protruded from their sockets in hazy recognition—

Recognition of a pair of piercing grey eyes.

I blinked and quickly blinked again. Never breaking eye contact with the familiar ghost of my past. I've only ever known one set of grey eyes, and they belonged to—

"Sirius?!"

Four Hours Prior

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry

"Harry? Harry, what can you see? Can you see where he is?" I frantically repeated to the wizard hunched over against the wall of the third-floor corridor clasping his head in pain.

Agonizing moments passed while waiting for a response.

I reached out, giving a comforting, gentle rub to my best friend's arm while he was interlocked with Voldemort's mind, unable to hear or process my frantic questioning.

Finally, coming back to the present and breaking the connection, captivating emerald green eyes latched onto my worried gaze.

"Shrieking Shack."

Sheer and utterly gut-wrenching chaos had broken out within the sacred halls of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Battles between fully grown Death Eaters and school children.

Dark creatures attacked whomever or whatever stood in their way.

Dementors swooped through the courtyard, searching for innocent souls to feed.

Sprinting through corridor after corridor, Harry Potter on my left and Ron Weasley on my right, we battled our way outside to the training grounds.

Blood. So much blood.

With one goal in mind— get to the Whomping Willow.

After one too many near misses for comfort, we eventually reached the sentient-like tree.

"IMMOBULUS," I roared with my wand aimed at the trunk.

The tree ceased thrashing, and I ushered Harry and Ron down through the opening to the passageway at the tree's base. Then, standing guard behind to protect my boys as they made their way inside, I yelled, "GO! I'm right behind you; I'll catch up!"

I peeked behind me to see if we were being followed. Then suddenly, before I could turn to slip into the opening, I was struck in my side by a stunning spell.

Thud.

I collapsed in front of the opening of the tree onto my side.

Limbs frozen, I gazed past the tree and saw Bellatrix Lestrange, the witch of my most violent nightmares, staring daggers into my soul— Cackling as she skipped towards me, her wand trained on my body.

Before she could screech the incantation resting on her lips— no doubt nothing short of pure torture on her mind, crazy bitch— a flutter of black robes obstructed my vision.

Moments later, I felt a familiar pull of apparation—