Ch 5 Plan


Hermione POV

"Morning pup," Sirius said from his seat at the end of the kitchen table. Harry had just walked in, rubbing his bleary eyes. Hermione was already present and reading a new book. He put down the newspaper and eyed the boy.

"Morning," Harry replied. He yawned and swatted Sirius' hand away after messing up his already messy hair. He sat down and took stock of all of the food in front of him. There were several plates filled up with food; bacon, toast, waffles and eggs. As well as a bowl of fruit and various beverages in pouring containers. It was impressive and a lot more than what was necessary.

"I made breakfast, but I didn't know what you liked so I made enough to probably feed a small tribe."

"You know how to cook," Harry said in surprise.

"A little." Sirius shrugged nonchalantly. " I promise it is all edible. Taste-wise. Well, there are so many options, at least one thing on this table should taste good." That was reassuring. Hermione was amused. "Had to figure out how to cook sometime. Plus you are still so scrawny. Your father was like that too. Until the end of sixth year, then his growth spurt hit him. You are probably the same. And then you will start eating your weight in food."

It always surprised Hermione how easily the two could fall into comfort. There was a simplicity there that she envied. Her parents and her used to have such ease but ever since she found out she was a witch and went to Hogwarts their relationship has been strained. And they have experienced some distance between them. Not just physically but emotionally.

They used to be apple to talk about everything. But it was hard for them to keep up with her school work and the terminology she had adapted to. It sometimes confused them. Even though they tried to keep up with her. And on top of that, she had been spending more time with her friends during the holiday. Yes, she could have just invited her friends over to her house, but instead, she went to the Burrow. And then the war happened. At first, she didn't tell them about Voldemort's resurrection. Or about some of the more dangerous activities she had partaken in during her school years. She never intended to lie to them; she just didn't want them to worry about her. Especially since most of the time, she was perfectly happy in the magical world. She was afraid they would try to take her away.

When Dumbledore sent them into hiding it was a wake-up call on all of the lying she had been doing. They were understandably angry but that quickly turned into fear when they realized she wasn't going with them. After talking about it for an hour and many tears spilt they accepted her decision and went separate ways. But not before telling each other how much they loved one another and how things would be different when they were reunited. And Hermione was looking forward to that.

Hermione missed them. And there were so many things she wanted to tell them. Like how Sirius was finally deemed innocent. The reunion between him and Harry. How she didn't just spend the summer stuck in the book but actually helped with the renovations. She learned how to replace a window and listened to so much rock and roll music. How Crookshanks has settled into the house and claimed a spot in each room as his own. The results of her O. which she knew they were excited to hear about.

So she started to write letters that she couldn't send, of all the things she wanted to tell them. She didn't want to forget a single thing when they were reunited.

"Damn!" Sirius proclaimed when he picked up the prophet. Even though it was no longer denying Voldemort's return and badmouthing Harry and Dumbledore. It still held grossly exaggerated articles. The last one was stated that Harry was the chosen one destined to vanquish all evil since he warned everyone of Voldemort's return before anyone else knew. What complete rubbish in Hermione's perspective.

"What?" Harry asked through a mouthful of what looked like oddly shaped pancakes. Once noticing her glare at his table manners he immediately swallowed before asking again.

"Who? Amelia Bones. She used to be an old friend. She was killed. Supposedly by Voldemort himself." As soon as he said the name the entire mood of the room dropped. And she immediately turned to Harry who had put down whatever he was eating now. His eyes started to glaze over with sadness and blame.

Sirius immediately sensing the impending tension put the paper down and turned to Harry. "Hey look at me, this isn't your fault. And if you keep thinking that. I will have Hermione smack you on the back of your head." Now there is a thought. If only it would work to snap him out of his depressive moods.

"Maybe if I would have just-" Noticing Sirius's glare and how she was also close to slapping him he changed his mind. "Sometimes I don't think I am that brave," Harry admitted. Hermione wanted to slap herself now. Out of all of the stupid things to come out of his mouth this has to be one of the top ten.

"Trust me you are. Or you're just crazy. No sane person would have the bullocks to pull off all of the things you have." There was both a sense of pride and concern in his voice.

Hermione gave him a bemused smile. "I can't tell if that's a compliment or not."

"It's both. I can't tell you how extremely proud I am of all that you have accomplished. You are a good friend. Saving a girl you hardly know from a troll in your first year or finding the Chamber of Secrets and killing a Basilisk to save your best friend's sister. But could you save this old man from a heart attack and tone down the death-defying stunts? I know it is hard and that you don't always go looking for danger. But maybe try to stick to quidditch this year." She couldn't help but hide her smile. For someone so paranoid they wouldn't be a good parental figure he was doing a great job at giving advice and setting boundaries while also giving Harry expectations to still enjoy being a child while he still can. "I know it will be hard with the war going on and I know you want to help. But there will be plenty of time for that later. Right now try to save your time at Hogwarts. You are going into your sixth year and after this, it will be your last year and you will be busy with your NEWTs and trying to figure out a career that the year will just fly by. "And if you really want to help. Train hard in your classes, especially Defence and Charms."

"And speaking of the Order." He addressed the both of them now and their hopeful eyes. "Since you both are underage you will not be allowed to join in the Order meetings. However, if I feel there is something you need to know. I will tell you, regardless of what Dumbledore or Molly Weasley says." Well, that is definitely better than last summer. And she would take what she could get.

And though it seemed like Harry would argue with Sirius he eventually deflated and grew into acceptance.

Sirius leaned back in his chair and had a glint in his eyes. "Now we stayed in last night. But let's go out. You, Harry, definitely need some new clothes and we should probably get more food. Since you are growing children and need more food. Plus I was thinking about decorating some more. Also Kitten if you want anything to decorate your room with…" He said trailing off. As if it was just a passing comment.

Oh, she knew he was acting a little conspiracy. And she would not stand for it. "Sirius, you are not spending money on me."

"What about a few more books for the library? I was even thinking about a couple of muggle ones. Harry, any ideas?"

Harry had a fork full of waffles in his mouth and was stared at expectantly. He slowly chewed his food as he thought of a response. "Um, I know that she likes Jane Austin novels. I know she loves The Book Thief and some classics like Alice in Wonderland. Muggle science fiction books are usually pretty good. Oh and just about every single edition of Hogwarts A History." He said wearing an identical smirk as Sirius. Of all the time for Harry to have paid attention. Apparently, Harry has chosen his side. But Hermione had a feeling that he just wanted them all to go out together. Since they would be going shopping and Hary was kinda clueless on that matter, she should offer some assistance. Merlin only knows what type of clothes he would buy for Harry.

She reluctantly said, "Fine."

Sirius rubbed his hands together in excitement. "Should we perhaps invite Moony if he isn't busy? He is easy to bribe though just offer him chocolate. We might need some extra hands."

A couple of extra hands was an understatement. Hermione was very much of the impression that Sirius was trying to spend all of his family's money. Or buy out the store. Whatever came first.


Sirius POV

Sirius didn't expect that the first thing he would be doing with Harry was manual labour. But he wasn't too upset over it.

Hermione was right, it was a great excuse to bond. The two of them were laughing and had a lot more paint splattered on them than what was necessary.

Sirius tested the waters by mentioning his favourite colours and then his parents. As well as his father's childhood bedroom after Harry picked out a colour. The way Harry's eyes lit up in excitement and curiosity as soon as he heard his parents' names gave Sirius the strength to go on. It wasn't that he didn't want to talk about them, it was just hard after everything they lost. And of course, Sirius still felt guilty. Though Harry definitely didn't hold him accountable. Sirius wanted to honour their memory and the only way he could think of doing that was to ensure that Harry knew everything he possibly could about them.

It wasn't perfect and of course, he would still have questions that Sirius could never answer. The only people who could were dead, But Sirius tried his best to remember every single detail to ensure that Harry would know and be proud of his parents regardless of their sacrifice. And they would be no doubt proud of the son that got left behind And that was regardless of his doing.

"What were my mom and dad like growing up?" Harry asked. And though Sirius didn't have to say it, it was vastly different from his own.

"I can't speak about your mother." Truth be told they didn't really become friends until fifth year. Moony and her were better friends than the rest of the group. But he and her only became friends over their shared broken family relations. He over the ever-growing strain with his parents and her with her sister. It wasn't until they became friends that she started to see James as different. The usual prat she saw him as, for the past several years. Much to his glee and slight encouragement. "But I can only assume that she had a good relationship with her parents." It wasn't until he talked to her that he became aware that his family life wasn't normal. He knew that the Potters were genuinely good people. But he thought that they were the exception. "I know her mother tried to teach her the piano but she didn't like it."

"And that she, her sister and their mothers used to garden together. I know that she was close to her father since she named you after him."

Harry gave him a quizzical look. "His name was Harison but she wanted something less old-fashioned."

"Wow." Harry's eyes lit up. It was just hitting Sirius now how much of his family he was missing out on. And it was a shame that no one had told him about his grandparents till now. And even the information on his parents has been far and few in between. "And my dad's parents?"

"Aww. Mr. and Mrs. Potter," Sirius said reminiscing. "They were amazing parents. Hell, they practically adopted me when I ran away." He remembered how he showed up on their doorstep in the pouring rain. He couldn't recall if he was crying or not but he remembered how Dorea hugged him. No hesitation and she immediately draped him in a warm blanket and gave him the spare room to stay in. He figured that he would stay for one day. But he ended up staging the entire two next summers with the Potters.

"What were they like?" It seemed that Harry inherited his mother's curiosity. That explained how he always got into dangerous situations.

"Well, your father took after his dad. Especially his hair. He was definitely a proud lion. And could be a bit of a jokester much to your grandmother's amusement and disdain." Sirius remembered the way James would try to emulate his father whenever he was in his presence. The way he would replicate his mannerisms. Such as rubbing a hand through his hair just to make it messier. How he would put butter and jam on half of his toast and then squish it together to make a sandwich. How the two of them would stand and lean against a wall. James definitely inherited his father's mannerisms while Harry got more of his mother's. "But he was a momma's boy for sure."

He wasn't sure if it was because his mother was worse than his father's treatment of him. But there was something about Dorea Potter that just made him gravitate towards her. And he wasn't the only one. "Dorea Potter was a stern, loving and demanding woman. Before she was married she was a Black. I believe my second aunt once removed or something. So she was eloquent and poised but not harsh or cruel like my family. She was so supportive of me. And always called me her son even though she never officially adopted me."

He looked at Harry fondly. The kid was growing tall. James and Lily were both shorter than him. But with the way he was growing, he just might surpass him. "They would have loved you and spoiled you rotten just like they did with James."

Sirius gave a bark of a laugh. "Ha. I just remembered your grandmother used to call your father Jamie. She was the only one allowed to call him that. I tried once and got hit for it," That was the first time James ever hit him. There were only two times he did. The second involved Snape. Sirius shook his head. There was no need to taint a good memory with the mention of Snape.

"And nicknames for my mom?"

Lily was to set in her ways to accept anything other than her name. Kinda similar to Hermione. "I think her mom called her Lillian when she was crossed with her. I called her lily flower to annoy her. She hated it." There was more than one occasion she would send a curse his way.

"Was that mom's marauder name?"

Sirius couldn't believe what information about his parents he was given and what picture he had of them. And how some of it was so accurate it was as if he grew up with them his entire life and some so completely wrong. "Oh god no. She would hate the idea. She always thought herself above our band of misfits." The number of times she turned them over to McGonagall for detention. It was just about the same amount of times she turned a blind eye to their antics in their later years. When she grew to become friends with them and become more amused by their behaviour rather than annoyed.

But she never joined in. In the end, she was happy to just be a Marauder's wife."She wasn't fond of the idea of me giving you one. Thought that if you had one it would encourage you to misbehave. So instead of giving you a proper Marauder name I just called you Pup." Realization seemed to shine in Harry's eyes. He finally seemed to understand why he called him that. "Your mom thought it was cute. Your dad hated it."

Merlin, he could still remember the screaming match they had when his first words were Padfoot instead of dad. Though Harry pronounced it more like "pafoo." Nonetheless, James was jealous. "He thought I was trying to steal you away. I would sometimes take you out of the house without telling them. Lily would freak out. And James would think he accidentally put the invisibility cloak on you and misplaced you."

Despite the yelling that would often ensue after those stunts. The nights were always filled with laughter and smiles. Nothing but happiness lived in that house. Until it was destroyed. "Merlin, I wished you knew them."

"Me too. But they knew you would be able to take care of me." Harry gave him a huge heart whelming smile.

Sirius just hoped that he would never be the cause for it to disappear. "I never had the chance before but I have a chance now."

"I am just warning you I might screw up." He decided to give himself a bit of credit and opted out of saying a lot or many times. "But luckily I can blame it on your childhood and not on my own doing."

"Okay." Sirius rubbed Harry's messy hair, most likely getting paint in it. But neither of them cared. They were too proud of the work they accomplished.

For the past couple of days. Hermione seemed off. Harry said that she normally got like this before school started and she wanted to make sure her summer homework was perfect. And he did think that was a factor in her stress. But not the main part of it. Several times he would catch her staring off into space when she was rewriting her essays. He considered that maybe she was worried about her parents but there was no reason to be. They were safe in another country under aliases.

He even commented on her apparent mood change and then proceeded to snap at him.

"I'm not moody, I'm thinking. Don't interrupt."

He could have easily written it off as a teenage girl thing. But his gut was telling him something was up so he planned on confronting her about it. In the morning but that night before he went to bed he found a light on in the kitchen. It was late and she said she was going to bed hours ago. Clearly, something was keeping her awake.

She didn't even look up from the book she was reading when he made his way into the kitchen. From the expression on her face, it didn't seem like a pleasant kind of read. She didn't even seem to notice his presence until he pulled out a chair. "Hey Kitten."

She lifted her head out of her hands and gave him a weak smile. Something was definitely wrong since she wasn't even pretending to be okay.

Okay. He could do this. He was worried about her well-being and now he just needed to express it. He wanted to help and he couldn't know how to unless he simply asked. And once he asked he would need to commit to this in its entirety. He couldn't just start being a helpful parent and then laugh off her problems. No, he needed to be supportive and a good listener. He knew at least up to that point despite his lack of social skills. "What's wrong?"

"Couldn't sleep." This might be easier than he thought. Well, that seemed like half the truth and at least she was being honest about something troubling her. He didn't know what he was going to say if she flat out denied something was wrong. "I had a lot on my mind. Or more so a realization that I can't seem to forget."

Now he was intrigued. And growing more nervous. This was definitely cautious territory. She was by far smarter than him and more self-reliant. If she was troubled then he definitely should be. "And you are trying to ease your mind by reading about dark magic," he said after angling his head to read the title written on the binding of the book.

She bit her lip and looked at him with big eyes. She hesitated before pushing the book over his way. "I want you to read this passage. And I want you to tell me what you think."

He turned the book around so that the text was right side up and briefly glanced at the page. The word Horcrux stood out to him. This was the book she found a week ago that had cut her in the library. What on earth was she doing with this? He looked at her incredulously until she gestured that he just read. And he did.

It still made him nauseous reading these words. Just thinking these words made him feel tainted. A Horcrux is a word used for an object in which a person has concealed part of their soul. A person split's their soul and hides it in an object outside the body. Then, even if one's body is attacked or destroyed, one cannot die, for part of the soul remains earthbound and undamaged.

He looked back at her and found that she was still worriedly biting her lip. "I am still disturbed just as I was about the first time."

She deflated a little at his comment. It was clear he wasn't seeing what she was. And she seemed extremely uncomfortable trying to explain herself. "I may be reaching here. Or I could be entirely wrong. But you may know more than I." She took a deep breath. And looked as if she was preparing herself to give a lecture in front of a hundred people. But it was just him and her. "Everyone says that the night Voldemort went after Harry that he cast the Killing Curse but it rebounded. And that's why everything thought he was dead. Because if someone is hit with that curse they die. But he didn't, why?"

He caught on to the connection she was trying to make and he suddenly felt his mouth go dry. He licked his lips but it didn't help. "Kitten I don't think-"

"Why wasn't he dead?" Hermione spoke loudly. She realized that she almost shouted, and nervously looked to the door, probably making sure that Harry hadn't come down at the commotion before speaking again in a lower voice. "Sirius, something was keeping him alive. Even though his physical body was gone. His soul was still alive and that was how he was able to possess Quirell after 10 years of no activity. And Harry described that night in the graveyard as Voldemort being reborn and gaining his body again."

Dread washed over Sirius. He let out a shaky breath before saying what she was thinking, "You think that Voldemort made a Horcrux."

Hermione sighed. It was clear she didn't want to believe it. And that was why she kept it to herself for this past week. "It lines up. And maybe it is a coincidence but Voldemort's story just always had too many holes. This fills them. And-"

"And? There is more?" He didn't know how much he would be able to take without his head exploding.

"You remember how I told you about Hary's second year and how Ginny was possessed by Tom Riddle's diary until Harry destroyed it. And that Tom Riddle was Voldemort's name when he was a child." He nodded his head. "If that was theoretically a Horcrux then why didn't Voldemort die unless he had more than one." Well shit. Somehow this all became so much worse. He honestly didn't know how to feel or to think. He only felt this kind of disbelief and shock once before. When Pettigrew blew up the street, faked his death and framed him. He was so baffled and surprised that Peter got the better of him and ended up betraying Lily and James that he ended up laughing. That ended up getting him arrested without a trial. He didn't know how to respond in the face of imminent doom.

"So tell me that I am just sleep-deprived and stressed." She looked at him intently. Her eyes were watering and she looked scared and he couldn't blame her. He felt the same way.

"Oh, I wish that made a lot less sense than it did." Sirius found what was left of his sanity slipping away with every second. "If you are right and now more than ever I wish you were more wrong than right. Then we are truly fucked." He wished he could say that she was wrong. But how could he when it all added up and was tied together with a neat little bow. He rubbed a hand over his face. And truly regretted being the adult in this room. Anybody would be better than him. He had no clue what to do or what to say to her to try and reassure her. Hell, he wasn't doing much of a job of reassuring himself.

They were indefinitely and definitely fucked. How could they not be? Voldemort was immortal and they had no clue to even go about destroying him. Sirius knew that this was the other shoe. He was waiting for it to drop. Everything was going too well this summer. And despite how everything seems to go wrong during the last month of Harry's school year. Sirius just constantly had this impending feeling of doom. That just crept underneath his skin during every moment of happiness. He had written it off as stress and worry with the war that was heating up each and every day. The Death Eaters were even attacking the muggles in broad daylight. Secrecy and sneaking around were lost to the out and in the open.

She was watching his expression and no doubt was monitoring all of the expressions that flashed across his face. She seemed apologetic. As if she was sorry for telling him and now dragging him into this huge ordeal. It wasn't her fault she was so clever. And it wasn't her fault that Voldemort split his soul into how many pieces and was now immortal. It was not her fault that they were fighting a war they will inevitably lose now that he knew this information. Despite the amount of stress, anxiety and fear he was now feeling, he was glad to not have false hope and to be able to truly consider his options.

And right now every fibre of his being is telling him to run for the hills. "I've been thinking we should move to Alaska."

She laughed at that. "Just run away from all of our problems?" She asked.

He was glad that she could find humour at a time like this. But he was being dead serious. "Exactly. We'll take Harry and even your cat." If he started now he could probably have the entire house packed up by tomorrow night. Besides, it's not like he was going to be able to sleep tonight anyway.

"But you are forgetting that trouble follows Harry wherever we go."

He found himself lowering into his chair. "Shit. There goes that plan.

She looked at him sympathetically. "It's a nice thought."

"So, what do we do?"

Together Hermione and he sat in silence looking at each other hoping one of them would come up with an answer. But neither of them said anything. For the first time this summer he really wished she didn't come to him for an answer. Because he was coming up absolutely blank. The parenting book he read did not mention anything about this. Now more than ever did Sirius wish he hadn't stopped drinking.

What were they going to do now?