Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter

Keep your detail muscles alert (yes, detail muscles) because I am introducing an important part of the story very subtly, but those of you who pick up random stuffses will (hopefully) notice it.

And new knowledge is given, knowledge that will tell you exactly why Hermione is so different. Well, the first half of it anyway.

Chapter 4

Night Wolf

I need to go where only you can follow

I need to run so that only you can chase me

I don't know why I need you when I need to be alone

I just need you with me, to help me when light cannot be shone

When I want to be alone I have to have you there

When I want to be with you, solitude I seek

When darkness wraps around me, it try to find the light

When the sky is bright and blue, I welcome in the night- from untitled

Sirius's POV (January 1982)

Heh heard the gate open and he sat up a little straighter. A new prisoner. There hadn't been any in about a month. Or what felt like a month, anyway. He wondered who they were.

He heard someone crying out, a man. Young too, by the sound of it. He glanced through the bars and saw a boy about eighteen struggling with the dementors. He was losing though. He could see their firm grip on his arms and his strength subsiding as they exerted their power on him. He leaned back, it being no reason of interest.

Four more dementors walked by and he watched, wondering why there were so many prisoners. They were walking with two other men, both of whom were hanging their heads, so as not to be recognized. He had no difficulties identifying the fourth prisoner however. She held her head high, wearing the chains as if they were gold treasures.

"Bellatrix," he whispered. She turned and the dementors pulled her. Her face twisted into a cruel smile which he was sure she forced as no one could possibly feel joy in this place.

"Cousin," she replied. The dementors had stropped trying to pull her along, intent on hearing the conversation.

"Odd," he said clearly. "I thought you might already be here."

"Obviously I'm better than you, to evade capture this long," she said. "And I earned my chains."

"Then tell that to the authorities," he said. "A death eater denying Sirius Black's guilt may change their minds."

"Who would believe me? No one will help you now Sirius," she said. "They all believe you're guilty. Do you know who sent me here?" He shook his head un-necessarily; surely she knew that prisoners were told nothing of the outside world, its conflicts or victories. "It was Lupin's wife; that bitch Hermione, the one known as the night wolf. She captured us. She doesn't believe your story and no one would listen to mad Bellatrix. Not like I would tell anyone. It would only help you, and the Dark Lord would not be pleased with that."

"It's all about Voldemort, well we took orders from Dumbledore but didn't always listen to him. You just want to please your master."

"A master will give us gifts, powers, things you, Black, could never imagine," Bellatrix spat.

"Hermione, who you call 'bitch' has more power than you can hope to have, more than your beloved Voldemort could ever have. He is defenseless compared with her; her has nothing compared to her powers. She's just a better witch."

"Insult him now," she said, her face glowing with unconditional pride. "You will smirk when he tortures everyone you love, right down to that filthy little half-blood Harry. You can laugh as he pulled the flesh of the boys bones. And if Hermione is so powerful, then why wasn't I here months ago?"

Sirius stood up and went against the bars, his face contorting with rage over Bellatrix's words. "Admit it, you're terrified of her. You and all your little dark friends. She's to you what Voldemort is to most. Even he is scared of her."

"Shut up," she hissed. The Dark Lord, scared of a mudblood? Impossible."

"You know it's true," he said. "He was worried about what she might do."

Hermione's POV (July 1991)

Her report was almost done, she thought satisfactorily, looking back through the Dursleys window. She had spent almost and hour on it, scribbling away and now she just needed a few more sentences to sum everything up.

There, she thought, putting down her quill and blowing on the parchment to help the ink dry. Lily would be happy with this.

For ten years, Lily had made Hermione write reports on Harry every few months, to see how he was doing. She didn't care how horrible her sister was as long as she knew about it. She wanted to know everything about Harry's life.

And Hermione felt very happy about this one especially. This was the last one she would ever have to write. After Hermione read it, she was going to take Lily, by force if necessary, to Eyelops Owl Emporium where in a week's time she would be bought by Hagrid, as a present to Harry.

She stood up and yawned. It had been another exhausting day and she still had to get to the Leaky Cauldron. It was a growing suspicion that muggle drugs were becoming quite popular in the wizarding area and Hermione, with nothing better to do, had volunteered to research the idea by bartending at the famous pub.

There hadn't been very much dark activity in several years so her team was quiet, broken up, possibly with new jobs. They had all been awarded the Order of Merlin First class for the capture of Bellatrix and her fellow death eaters at the Longbottom attack, but that was the last thing they had ever done. She had made them all swear though, that if a situation were ever to arise again and she needed them, they would come. They had been the best of the best, and Hermione had never felt prouder of anything.

She heard the front door open and saw Harry rush out, furious, to the fence and kicked it a few times. Hermione felt like hugging him, but knew she couldn't Enough strange things were going on in the poor boys life right now, and he didn't need a complete stranger giving him hugs.

Remus's POV (August 1991)

Somehow, and for reasons he knew he would never understand, the Leaky Cauldron was always less crowded in the summer. He didn't understand it; that was when he came. It only made sense to him that people should come in the summer.

It didn't matter he supposed, leaning back in his chair and reading the Prophet. Today was an exception. People were crammed into every corner. He wasn't sure why, but it was of no significance to him. The door opened but he didn't turn around until he heard a voice from the bar.

"Hello Hagrid," said the female bartender up at the counter. "Usual?"

"Can't, I'm on Hogwarts business," said Hagrid. Remus turned to say hello and received a shock. Harry.

The pub went silent. Remus felt his heart stop beating for a second. Harry.

He had forgotten that this year Harry would be going to school, that he would have to come to Diagon alley at some point, but what shocked him the most was something he hadn't known until today.

Harry looked exactly like James.

Except for the eyes.

Those eyes belonged to Lily.

He found himself string as others in the bar shook Harry's hand. By the expression on the boys face, Remus could tell this was the first time he had ever been with wizards which shocked him. He had though that he would know about the wizarding world and Voldemort, which he must of, but it was obviously fresh in the boy's mind. This was the first time he had been with others.

He stood up and managed to blend with the crowd. He shook Harry's hand to get a better look at the boy. Conflicting thoughts ran through his mind at the sight of his best friend's son. He pitied the boy, remembering how the ministry wouldn't let Remus raise him, but he also felt slightly irritated; within a few years he would be dating Hermione.

Hagrid and Harry went out the back to the alley and Remus watched them disappear, his own thought confusing him and sadness hitting him. He hadn't seen Hermione for nearly nine years, not since he had tried to bring her home from the ministry. He hadn't heard anything about her, no stories in the paper, no news from Dumbledore, nothing. He had long since tried to give it up, tried to loose his faith that she would someday return, but his heart wouldn't let him. He wanted to forget her, but he couldn't.

"Do you need anything else?" said a voice behind him and he turned. The female bartender was standing there.

"I'm fine right now I think," he said. "I'll just finish my paper."

She nodded and went to the next table to ask its occupants the same questions. Remus found himself watching her. Something about her had been very familiar.

Hermione's POV (August 1991)

She could feel Remus's eyes on the back of her neck and for the first time truly appreciated her disguise. She did not necessarily appreciate being blond, skinny, and stupid looking, but she knew that Remus recognizing her would be less reason for thanks.

It was good to see him. She didn't hear much about him. She couldn't see for herself very often or else he would notice her and Dumbledore was busy enough. She rarely saw him either.

Mostly she kept to herself, working. There was hardly anything to do but to work. It was quiet, and she could be alone, something she had become accustomed to.

She wondered lately why she didn't return home, why she didn't go back to Remus, but she found it easier to not think about it, and continue what she was doing. Somehow she still couldn't bring herself to go back, fearing that if she did she would loose herself again. She was scared that everything she had done, all her work that had made her Hermione again would be wasted, because her home was one of sadness. She worried that going back would mean that she would live with a constant reminder of all the pain; Lily and James, Sirius, Peter and herself. Remus thought that they were all dead except for Sirius and Hermione and living with him when he had those thoughts would be just as painful as her life would if they were all dead.

With a sweep of her hand she cleared the table she was in front of. The glasses vanished and the wood was free of all crumbs and spills.

And then there was Harry. She could only imagine what that could have done to Remus. She knew he was confused and lost, and here was Harry, her only other boyfriend and he hadn't seen her in nine years.

She shook her head. Right now she had to finish her shift, and then check to make sure that Hagrid had bought Lily. She went back up to the bar and took of the little apron she wore for work.

"See you tomorrow Linda," said Tom with a wink. He knew who she was but for the sake of the investigation, he never referred to her as Hermione in front of customers.

"By Tom," she said and walked out the back. As the door shut behind her, she felt the Polyjuice potion wear off. Just in time, she thought. One more second and Remus might have seen her.

She opened the gateway to Diagon Alley where Hagrid was towering over what was left of the shoppers. She pushed through the crowd until she could see him and Harry, but was un-noticed by either. She was pleased to see that Harry carried a cage with a snow white bird who looked disgruntled. The amber eyes widened at the sight of Hermione but Lily did nothing else to recognize her.

She sighed and disapparated home, hoping that her plan would go right.

Sirius's POV (July 1993)

He ran a hand through his long matted hair. Twelve years of Azkaban meant twelve years of no magic which meant his hair was to his elbows, something he wasn't on very good terms with. He would have dared even with muggle scissors, but even those weren't allowed.

Of course, it didn't matter. There was no one there to see his hair. There was no one for miles who would even notice him, why should his hair be so special?

Wait, Fudge had seen his hair. But Fudge had been terrified of him, how rational he acted, how Azkaban had not made him insane. But thanks to Fudge he had his information. He may not be albe to convince others of his innocence, but he would die here in Azkaban with it in his hands.

But of course, that's what he wished they all thought. He was going to leave. He was going to find a way out of this God forsaken hellhole, and stop that little rat, who, even now, was making his way into the Daily Prophet. And a good thing too. If not Sirius would never have found him, which was crucial.

Ever since he had been given the newspaper, Sirius only thought of getting out and keeping Harry safe. He knew enough about the Weasley's to guess that Peter would be lurking somewhere in Gryffindor tower, near Harry, who had to be in Gryffindor. All of this led to the possibility that if Voldemort gathered his strength once more, Harry could be finished. And whatever promises Sirius had broken to James, Sirius would not let Peter touch James's only son.

He heard the gates open and he sat up alertly. The gates had rarely opened since Voldemort fell and someone coming in was always worth seeing. Other prisoners started muttering more furiously in response, but they were all insane. Sirius would know exactly who came in.

Who ever they were, they had a strange affect on Azkaban. Prisoners in cells closer to the gate than his own began to scream as the footsteps of the stranger passed them. He couldn't think of who could be invoking such terror over the mad and fanatical imprisoned death eaters, but he didn't think it could be good.

The footsteps stopped. Sirius looked up. A hooded figure stood between two Dementors, indistinguishable from them except for the feet that were visible beneath a half inch space between the bottom of the robes and the dungeon floor.

"This one," said the figure. It was a woman, her voice was quiet and low, keeping itself unheard from others in the vicinity, but still Sirius heard it and whats more, vaguely recognized it.

The bars to his cell opened and the woman stepped inside. The dementors did not leave but stayed in places, as though watching them. "Leave us," said the woman, without turning to look back at the dementors. They glided away.

The woman took two steps closer to him and said "Well Sirius, it is past time." In the distance he heard someone screaming.

Sirius, unsure whether he was dealing with an enemy or an ally, replied coolly. "Past time to see me tortured?" Once again he heard screaming, but there were words embedded in them, but it was impossible to make out the yells.

"Past time to see you, it has been much to long. I do have a memory of you though-" The screams became louder and Sirius caught the word "night".

"A memory almost twenty years old-"

"Wolf," screamed the voice and Sirius stood up. "Night wolf" only meant one person, but not necessarily friend or foe.

"-yet you are still thirty-three. Odd isn't it."

"Hermione," Sirius said, his voice breaking with every emotion he had ever felt; anger at her disbelief, shock at her visit, confusion as to why she was there, it all ran through his head and came out his mouth.

She lowered her hood. It was Hermione, but a different Hermione from when he had last seen her. Her eyes were hollow, her face pale, and what he could see of her figure, she had become very thin. "Good to see you once again," she whispered, in a voce choked with emotion.

Still not sure if he could trust her, Sirius found himself standing up and accepting her hug. There was a comfort in her arms that he missed, something he had almost forgotten about. She brought back memories, good memories that he was able to hang onto for a few seconds before they were swept away by the dementors, but they made their imprint in his mind.

Sirius pulled away, and saw that Hermione had tears in her eyes, but they weren't because she was sad. She looked happy, as though she had been waiting for years to see him. Which, he thought, she probably had. He watched her study his face, concern etched in every corner of her face. A face, however familiar and comforting, that had changed.

There were lines beneath her eyes, eyes filled with worry. Her mouth was no longer smiling; it almost seemed to tilt down at the corners rather than up. And it looked as though she bathed in shadow; such was the darkness.

"What are you doing here?" he said, taking a step back, still unsure whether or not she was his friend. He had learned not to trust easily anymore.

"I'm going to help you," she said gently.

"You could have helped before," he said. I know you believe me; why didn't you talk to the ministry?"

"I can't change anything Sirius. I help what does happen. That is why I'm here."

Sirius inwardly marveled at her; she had changed, she was more like the witch he had found bloody and broken at school, but still did not dare to believe her. "So it has nothing to do with me? Just for time?"

"Sirius, you know that's not true!" she said, looking shocked. "You have no idea how much we've all missed you."

"Except for you, everyone thinks I'm a mad mass murderer," Sirius said. "Everyone except for you and Peter."

"And the people also believe Peter dead, and no matter how many death eaters I've brought in, I'm still insane. Who will listen to either of us?"

"Dumbledore would listen to you," said Sirius. "Or Remus, he's your husband."

Hermione was silent. She looked out the window, her eyes searching past the sunken plants and swamp-like land. Finally she spoke: "Is it so great to be locked up here Sirius? Without any news of the outside world? Not knowing how things work in the world you used to belong to?"

Her words confused him, but struck him with terror. "They're not dead are they? Remus or Dumbledore?"

She smiled sadly and looked back at him. "No, they're still around, far from dead. What I meant, is it better to not know? Not to know the problems of the world because you can't, or would you prefer to know it all?"

"Well, I dunno," said Sirius. He'd never really thought about it before, which would he pick? "Probably to know."

"I guessed," she said. "Sirius Black never was one to sit around, oblivious to the action all around."

"What don't I know? What's happened to Remus and Dumbledore?"

'They're both fine-"

"Hermione!"

"Fine, I can't tell you how they are because I haven't seen either one of them for years."

Her words reverberated around the cell and died. Sirius stared at her, mouth open, disbelief in every corner of his face. What on earth was she talking about? She hadn't seen them? "What?"

"I haven't really talked to Remus in about eleven years," she said, in a regretful tone. 'But that's not the point-"

"Hermione what on earth-of course it matters-" Sirius spluttered, still unable to believe what he was hearing.

Hermione sighed, looking frustrated. "Two days before Voldemort killed Lily and James I disappeared. I-I ran away." She turned her head away, looking ashamed.

"You ran away," Sirius repeated. "Why?"

She looked back up at him. "Can you not think of a reason?" she said.

He could. She would have known everything that was going to happen. He knew If he had known that one night everything would be perfectly fine, and the next morning almost everyone he loved was dead, then he would have seen running away as a possible means of escape. But even so-

"I didn't want to be around. Well, I was around, I saw it happen, but I felt at the time that if I stayed with Remus I would change it all, I'd make a different history, and not using my power, means not changing anything," she said.

Sirius stayed silent, there didn't really seem to be much to say.

"And then, as you know, when that happened, I wasn't exactly…myself."

"You mean you were out of your mind," Sirius finished. Hermione chuckled appreciatively. "But what does that have to do with anything?"

"It's part of the reason I haven't gone back," she said. "I wanted to be-become myself again, be Hermione Granger again, so then I wouldn't be so scared all the time."

"Did it work?" Sirius asked in spite of himself.

"I guess, but if I went back would I go back to it? That's what I don't know. That's why I haven't gone back yet."

There was a moment of silence. Then Sirius asked "So why are you here?"

"To help you."

"Yes, you've said- anything more specific."

"I expect you've had your visit from Fudge," she said airily.

"Yes, pointless, yet so informative," he said, a dislike for the minister catching in his throat.

"So do you know what you're going to do?"

"I'm going to get out of here, get to Harry before that rat does, or at least stop him from getting there."

"The 'rat" has been close to Harry for two years, it's not him you have to worry about, its Voldemort getting stronger. As long as Voldemort is weakened Peter will leave Harry alone, watching him, but not harming him. If Voldemort grew strong again-"

"He could give him Harry," Sirius muttered.

"Exactly," said Hermione.

"I still know where he is and I'm going to put him here, in Azkaban," said Sirius. "Or I'll kill him."

"Do you know how you're going to do it?" Hermione asked.

"Well, no."

She rolled her eyes. "It's good for you that I'm here, you'd never get anywhere else otherwise." She turned around and sat on the bench next to him. "Do you still have your powers?" she asked tentatively.

"Yeah, but I don't have wand, it's gone. I haven't really thought about it."

"Can you transform?"

He nodded. "I do it ever now and then, kind of for moral support, to prove that they can suck it out of me."

"You have to use that. Padfoot is your key out of here."

"How-"

"You figure that out. Once out go immediately to Hogwarts. I'll try to meet you there, but I'm not making any promises. And you have to be aware of two things."

"what?"

"One, Remus is teaching there this year. Don't seek him out, he'll know you on sight. And two, I'm there."

"What?"

She rolled her eyes again. "Hermione Granger is in her third year at Hogwarts. She is best friends with Ron Weasly and Harry Potter. She has a cat named Crookshanks. Be his friend. He will help you. Peter is posing as Ron's rat Scabbers, as you know. That's all you need to know." She stood up and walked to the gate. Two dementors came and opened the gate. "Wait a second," she said to them. Sirius stood up. She walked closer to him. "I'll see you in a few days then," she whispered. "And when you get Remus on your side, don't tell him I helped you. And forgive Harry, Ron, and Hermione for what they might say and, er, do."

"Thanks for the tip," he said. She nodded and hugged him before she left.

Even the dementors could not suck all the hope out of Sirius. He would be out soon, out and free. And already he had an ally.

Hermione's POV

She had to stop by the Leaky Cauldron before she went home, so Hermione walked along the muggle streets, humming pleasantly to herself. Another successful day.

Within the week the papers would report that Sirius Black, the convicted murderer, had escaped from Azkaban to kill Harry Potter. Fudge would be so distracted he would overlook her so that she would be free to help Sirius. Others might accuse her of helping her old friend, but fudge would never notice.

A teenager (homeless, by the look of it) was lying in a doorway. Feeling as if she ought to do one more good deed that day, Hermione pressed him a five pound note, for which he gave a toothless smile, and continued into the Leaky Cauldron, where she picked up her pay, and then flooed home.

For the past two years she'd lived in a small muggle owned apartment. It was small, but the rent wasn't bad, and she could keep to herself, which she liked. No one ever came to call except Dumbledore, and that had only been when she moved in.

She threw her bag down onto a chair and preceded into her room, where she flopped down on her bed. It had been a long day, but it left her with a sense of accomplishment. Sirius would be free soon, and it was all her fault, she thought. Even though she knew what would happen to him eventually, she had a kind of savage pleasure at the idea that it was her doing that would be giving Fudge hell. She'd never liked the man, she thought, drifting slowly into sleep. Even before he had become minister he had been an idiot. An absolute moron…

She was chopping up vegetables to put into the soup she was making her and Remus for supper. One knife was bewitched to cut up carrots, another was skinning the potatoes, and a large wooden spoon was stirring the pot where they were all going.

Remus came slowly up behind her and put his arms around her stomach, his hands stopping right over the bump in the center where their son was growing. She smiled and turned her head to kiss his cheek. He spun her around and kissed her passionately on the mouth. "I love you," she whispered against his lips.

One of his hands was still on her stomach. He jumped backwards as the baby kicked, for the first time.

There was a moment where they both froze, disbelief etched into both of their faces, then Hermione felt it again, in her abdomen, a little fluttery feeling, as the baby kicked again.

"Was that?" Remus said. "What I think it was?" She nodded. His face burst into a smiled and Hermione started laughing. Remus pulled her into his arms and spun her around slowly, while she kissed his face.

There was a knock on the door and Remus put her down. "I'll get it,' she said. "Just watch the vegetables." He nodded and Hermione walked down the hallway and opened the front door, where a figure stood, hooded and masked.

Her breath caught in her throat as the figure raised its wand. No sound came out, but Hermione felt a wave of pain hit her, piercing her.

She screamed and heard Remus running to her as she started to fall. She hit the ground and the scene blurred. She could see shapes, growing steadily darker, moving until all was darkness, and she was gone.

Hermione sat up straight, cold sweat pouring off of her, soaking her bed. Blood was rushing through her veins, and her heart was pulsing so hard she could feel it through her ribcage, and there was pounding in her ears.

She hadn't dreamt about that in thirteen years.

Trapped in darkness

Crawling for the light

There aren't any stars out

Can't take much more tonight

No one else it out there

Theres nowhere else to hide

I'm watching through the window

You're staring back inside- from Help Me

So, was this one better? Huh? Tell me! review me! Yes I know it was a long wait and it's shorter than the last one, but I hope that everyone enjoyed it.

Replies

Colorofangels: you know now right? Well, half of it.

HPFreak2gd4u: Poor Remus I know, but it will get better (eventually)

Fairy-GYAKUTENNO-MEGAMI: well, Hermione is still trying to find herself, something that might be a little easier to understand after this chapter. I know she's being dumb, (I'm the author) but it helps the story.

Countess Vladislaus Dragula: I'm sorry about the wait on this, but I hope you enjoyed it.

Elle DeVarquez: Sorry about the wait and I'm glad you like this story so much.

Ashleigh: I know they were so close, and I started crying while I wrote that, but I put it in for the people who wanted encounters.

Jenna from 1 of their comps (Other wise known as Saphira Silverflame): Glad you liked it so much.

Black-rose23: No problem with when I get the reviews, just as long as I do. Bode and Croaker won't appear again for a while, but I put it in so that the thought will linger over everybody.

Lizzieangel90: Did this chapter clear it up for you? I know it's different, as soon as I came up with this story line, I knew it would a big change.

Genevieve: At first I didn't really know what to think of your review, but I've come to a conclusion; I will finish this story and then after it's done I will make the alternate version where Hermione wasn't depressed and they lived happily and everything, but the same stuff happens, like her capturing Bellatrix and yeah. Just do me a favor and keep reading this one because I like your reviews and I like to know what you think.

Now, as the replies are over I have a topic to discuss much on;

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. (SPOILERS! I HAVE WARNED YOU!)

I read it in about five and a half hours, and it was a great book, but I cannot pretend I didn't dislike some parts of it. Not dislike enough to not like the book, but some of the stuff well.

First I would like to say that I know who R.A.B. is: Regulas Black. Me and my friend thought of it, and Disneydoll424 said so in her latest chapter, so I guess it had to be true. If you have any other thoughts on who it might be though, I'd love to know.

Second, SNAPE IS A GIT! There, I said it. I hate him so much. I defy anyone who says that he only killed Dumbledore because he had to act his part, because killing Dumbledore is way to evil okay?

Third, the Tonks/Remus thing is very sweet. I didn't exactly predict that, but I've never been opposed to that ship, Hermione/Remus Fanfiction is better, but I know in my heart that Hermione's belongs to Ron.

I would love to know what you all think so review me please and I'll get this next chapter up A.S.A.P.

Signing off (salutes)

La Chica Perfecta