DISCLAIMER: Deep in the jungle there lies a mountainous tree with millions upon millions of leaves. Every year, one leaf falls off. By the time the last leaf falls, I will still not own Harry Potter.

A/N: Last week I did an evil thing. As many of you pointed out, I ended my last chapter with a mean cliffhanger. BUT, big but there, I did tell who it was… in my live journal. If I'm feeling generous, I might leave another clue or something. This story will be ending soon. Thanks for reading!

Chapter 31:

"Back so…," she started but her mouth fell open as she saw the person standing before her.

"Sirius?" Hermione asked breathlessly, almost afraid to believe who was standing before her very eyes.

Sirius smiled slowly, his eyes taking in the sight of her. "Hermione," he whispered before moving to her side and taking her into his arms.

He kissed the top of her head as he held her tight against him, his arms holding her securely. "I can't believe you're actually here…"

"I can't believe you're here," Hermione admitted with a small laugh and then her voice grew shaky as the tears flowed freely down her face.

"Shh, don't cry love," Sirius said softly as he stroked her hair. "Everything is going to be okay. We're going to get you out of here…."

"We?"

"Some Order members are here," Sirius told her. "There are about twenty to thirty werewolves and Giants out front fighting the Death Eaters and Harry is outside in the hall watching for any unexpected company."

Hermione gazed up at him through tear-filled eyes. "So you're really here to save me?"

Sirius chuckled and lightly kissed the tip of her nose. "Yes, love. Now we better hurry before anyone comes. Do you need anything from here?"

"No," Hermione said firmly. "I want no reminder of this awful place."

Sirius nodded and grasped her hand firmly in his. "Let's go."

They entered the hall and joined with Harry who hugged Hermione tightly before heading off down the hall. They were careful to avoid being seen by any Death Eater who decided to hide from the battle outside. Hermione clung desperately to Sirius' robes, praying that the invisibility cloak covered them completely.

Bodies littered the ground outside while red liquid flowed easily over the ground. Some were identifiable, but others were too badly tore up to even attempt it. The werewolves had done there job well and it appeared that only a few Death Eaters remained.

Remus came running up to them with a small smile on his face. "I was just about to send someone back in to look for you. It's good to see you again Hermione."

"It's so good to see you too," Hermione replied. "Actually, it's good to see the outside world again."

Remus and Harry chuckled while Sirius studied her face. He wore a frown as his eyes roamed over her, searching for something.

"We found Draco and Harlem, they've both been taken to St. Mungo's for an thorough examination. We also found Snape…dead."

Hermione's eyes hardened at the mention of her former Potions Master. "So be it," she said simply, her voice void of any emotion.

"Hermione….?" Harry started but was cut off when she spoke.

"Give him a good burial, a small ceremony. It would be what he would have wanted," Hermione said, looking everywhere but at Sirius who she knew would see the icy depths in her eyes.

"Sure thing Hermione," Harry answered. He knew when to give in.

"How many Death Eaters escaped?" Sirius asked.

"Not many," Remus answered. "We have Aurors and werewolves out looking for them at this very moment. If anything, the werewolves will sniff them out."

"Malfoy?" Sirius asked, his voice filled with venom.

"Dead," Remus responded. "He tried to escape from fighting himself so his own men turned against him. They realized that their fearless leader was a chicken himself."

"Good," Sirius said. Then he turned to Hermione, "Let's get you out of here."

Hermione merely nodded and allowed him to apparate them out of the land of corpses. She closed her eyes against the feel of the apparations, against the feel of magic.

When she opened her eyes again, she found that Sirius had apparated them to Order Headquarters instead of their house. She looked up at him questioningly.

"Lauren is currently at our house watching Sirina," he told her. "I don't think now is the time to just magically appear in front of her."

Hermione smiled up at him and walked into the living room where she sat down on the couch. She patted the space beside of her in invitation as Sirius entered the room.

He sat down beside of her and wrapped his arms around her. "Want to tell me about it?"

A single crystal tear escaped from her eyes as she held on to him. "I'm just so glad that you came…I don't know how much longer I could have lasted…"

Sirius smiled. "You're strong Hermione, you're a fighter. You would have lasted…"

Hermione leaned back and gazed into his eyes. "No, I don't think I would have… I was about to give myself to him to save Harlem… as much as I hate her, I couldn't let them kill her…"

Sirius kissed her lips to silence her. "Don't think about it. You're safe now. I'm not going to let you out of my sight ever again."

Hermione laid her head against his chest and let the tears escape the confines of her eyes. He was right, she was safe now. Lucius was dead, he couldn't reach her.

"What happened with Snape?"

Hermione jerked her head up. "What do you mean?"

"You don't hide your feelings that well Hermione. I saw that look in your eyes. What happened?" Sirius asked again, his black eyes boring into her soul.

She gave a deep sigh before meeting his gaze. "He offered Sirina and Harry to them."

Hatred and intense vengeance filled Sirius' eyes. "What?"

"He thought that Malfoy might actually win so he offered Sirina and Harry to Malfoy if he could join them."

"If he wasn't dead, I would kill him myself," Sirius growled.

Hermione placed a hand to his cheek lovingly. "It's over now…"

"How could you tell them to give him a good burial?" Sirius roared. "After what he was going to take from you, from us, you want him to have a good burial."

"Sirius," she interrupted, "we knew what he was. We knew that there was always a chance…." She paused. "Yes, he was willing to take everything dear from us but… underneath it all, I think he was a good man."

Sirius rolled his eyes in disbelief but he didn't argue with her. He wrapped his arms tighter around her and rested his chin on her head. They sat in a comfortable silence for a while, each savoring the feel of the other they had craved for so long.

"I love you Hermione," Sirius choked out. "I thought….I thought that I had lost you and I was so scared….I don't think I could live without you and Sirina…"

Hermione raised her head. "I love you Sirius, I always have and I always will. We were separated once and found our way back to each other and we'll keep doing that if necessary."

"But I don't want it to be necessary," Sirius stated, a serious look in his features.

"What do you mean?"

Sirius leaned forward and kissed her lips lightly. "Marry me Hermione, be my wife. You are my life, my heart, my soul. I almost died in the little time we've been separated. I want to know that you're mine for the rest of my life. Marry me…"

"Yes," Hermione whispered as her lips met his in a gentle kiss full of love and passion.

Sirius was the first to draw back, his black eyes matching her own tear-filled ones. "I'm going to buy you the biggest diamond they have. Anything you want will be yours."

Hermione smiled. "The only thing I want or need is you and Sirina. I don't need material objects as long as I have the two of you around."

"Let's go home to our daughter," Sirius said. "I think you've been separated long enough."

"Yes, lets."

They apparated to the doorstep of their house, holding hands and smiling brightly. They walked into the house together, Sirius leading the way. They found Lauren and Sirina in the living room, awake and playing with some toys.

As soon as Sirina caught site of Hermione, she held her arms up invitingly. "Mama," she said in a tiny voice, stumbling slightly over the word.

Hermione smiled brightly and scooped up her daughter. "Oh am I glad to see you baby. Mummy's missed you terribly, you and daddy both, but I'm here now."

Sirina giggled and gave Hermione a sloppy kiss on the cheek. "Mama!"

Lauren laughed at the sight and stood from her place on the floor. "It's good to see you Hermione. I've been wondering if you were okay or not and, just for the record, Mr. Black is not a good liar."

Sirius blushed. "You didn't believe me?"

Lauren shook her head. "Not for a second, but you were trying so hard that I felt bad for you."

Hermione laughed. "Oh Lauren, I'm fine."

Lauren looked at her doubtfully and then turned to Sirius. "Is she okay, Mr. Black?"

"First off, let's go with Sirius," he told her. "And second, that isn't a fair question since I can't lie and I can't tell you what you want to hear."

"What happened?" The babysitter asked bluntly.

"It's a long story," Hermione said, bouncing her daughter on her hip.

Lauren shrugged, "I have time, my mum doesn't expect me till tomorrow. So, what happened and why was there a loud pop outside?"

Hermione nodded to Sirius and he went into the explanation of the wizarding world. Lauren listened eagerly, not once doubting his words.

They were interrupted when a series of small 'pop's sounded and the room was filled with Harry, Ginny, Draco, Remus, and Tonks. They all looked doubtfully at the muggle babysitter.

"Er….," Remus started slowly, looking from one person to another, "hello."

Lauren smiled. "Hello yourself. I gather that you lot are witches and wizards too."

They all nodded, not really knowing what to say.

Lauren pointed at Draco. "You're bleeding."

Draco looked down at the seeping wound and back up to her with a small smile on his face. "So I am. Would you care to help me with it?"

Lauren nodded and walked with him to the bathroom to clean his wound.

Remus waited until they were out of earshot before turning to Sirius and Hermione. "You told her," he stated.

Hermione nodded. "It made sense. She knew something was up and now there are no pretenses between us. She surely would have noticed something sooner or later with her watching Sirina."

"Sirina is developing her powers and showing them," Sirius added. "She doesn't care who's around when she does magic, she finds it hilarious."

"So…is it over?" Ginny asked.

Hermione smiled and glanced at Sirius. "No, it's the beginning…for all of us."

A/N: Only the epilogue left… I think I might cry. Thank you to all of you who have read this story and it's prequel. I appreciate it so much!

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