Omg—thanks to chipped-nails for my first review on this chapter! Okay, this is kinda going to be odd, because it will switch pov's, but bear with me.

Thanks also to: debarie, and hermionegranger2007. I think this will be my last herm/sirius fic, because I've kind of run out of ideas. Sorry :

"I told you. Sirius is alive." Harry repeated patiently.

"B—Bu—But—I—He wasn't—" Hermione stuttered.

Was Harry telling the truth? Because if he wasn't, it was a really low lie and she didn't think she could ever forgive him. However…maybe Sirius did take her advice? That would be extraordinary. She could go see Sirius again! Granted, he wouldn't be the same, but she'd be able to keep her promise! Harry had better not have been lying…

"I know. Maybe he did take your warning, Hermione." Harry said, still amazed Hermione came back safely.

Harry also couldn't believe Sirius was alive. It was the oddest feeling—Harry had seen Sirius die! He didn't believe this was possible.

Harry sat by the Common Room fire all alone; Ron had gone out to practice Quidditch, and truth was, he needed it. He was suddenly aware of a tapping at the window, and he looked outside to see his snowy owl, Hedwig. He rushed over to open it, wondering who would send him a letter.

"Thanks, Hedwig." He said, giving her a pat as she flew off again.

He curiously opened the letter, for all it said on the front was 'Harry Potter'. As he read, he just about dropped it in surprise:

Harry, (the letter read)

Just wanted to let you know that I'm out of St. Mungo's—it seems Fudge granted me innocent, which is long overdue—and if you wanted to come over to Headquarters, we're having a little celebration…don't ask me why, because I don't know, considering my dear old cousin Bellatrix got away, along with Voldemort. Anyway, send Hedwig back with your answer.

-Sirius

Harry would have considered this a really bad joke, if it hadn't been Sirius's writing and his customary paw print. He would just have to go to the Order of the Phoenix to find out.

"I still can't believe it." Hermione squeaked after Harry told her the story.

"You should come too, Herm." Harry said, forgetting her dislike of the nickname. "It's tonight. Since we're both over 17 now, we're allowed to Apparate. I already asked Dumbledore if we can, and he said it was fine." Harry added, looking at Hermione's distrustful face. "But will you come?"

"Yeah, I will." Hermione said decisively. "So, you up for Exploding Snap?"

Harry looked at her oddly at her suggestion for a game that he usually played with Ron, but shrugged and dealt the cards out anyway.

Harry showed Hermione the piece of parchment that read:

The Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix

may be found at number twelve, Grimmauld Place, London.

He told her to memorize it, then he set fire to it with his wand tip. As soon as she got to the address part of the letter, a gray door appeared, and they walked inside to cheers and laughter. Mrs. Weasley came bustling up to them, rosy blotches appearing in her cheeks (they assumed she had consumed a bit of alcohol).

"Harry! Hermione! So glad you could make it! Come on dears, everyone's in there." She said happily, pointing into the dining room.

They walked inside, and at once Sirius caught Hermione's eye. She motioned for them to go outside, and he made some sort of excuse to leave. Harry glanced at the two of them, but then got deep into a conversation with Lupin and Ron.

"Sirius. I made you a promise a long time ago. I don't know if you remember, but—" she started, but he cut her off.

"Of course I do. That's how I knew to duck dear Bellatrix's curse. Thank you. You saved my life." He said gratifyingly.

"This is too awkward, Sirius. It doesn't feel right…at all. It's uncomfortable. You're Harry's godfather for god sakes!" Hermione exclaimed.

She couldn't however, ignore the burning feeling behind her eyes coming forth at the sight of him. He wasn't the same man she knew in the past—she realized that. But he still had the same laughing, carefree expression in his dark eyes, and for the first time since knowing him, she saw right past the Azkaban-influenced gaunt face, the unkempt hair, and the shabby clothes. She just saw a messy but cared for head of hair, eyes that you could very well lose yourself in, and a muscular, tanned physique.

For just about the billionth time in the past few days, Hermione's chestnut eyes fogged over again with endless tears. Only one fell, and in the light it was impossible to see. To her chagrin, she found that the empty place in her heart had not been filled, but instead felt more hollow and desolate. This wasn't what she imagined her meeting with Sirius to be like. She didn't know exactly how she wanted it, but this was not in her preference.

The feeling of having something so uncharted…such an odd yet lust-filled relationship grow to loving extremes, just to have it ripped away like it had never happened. It was enough to make one's heart burst into a million pieces. And, indeed, that's what Hermione's felt like. She wished she could just take Ron, Harry, Fred, George, and Ginny with her to go back to the past. She would have everything she wanted. Sure, there would be times when she would miss her parents and even (though she didn't want to admit it), the arguments with Malfoy. But she would have her Sirius. And Harry would have his father again, if as more of a friend than a parent. It was paining her something fierce inside.

"I know, Hermione. But we will always have the past to remember."

"Yeah…the past…"

A single tear fell slowly down her cheek, glistening in the lamplight, then was gone in an instant…just like her and Sirius.