A note from Serade Black: I'm starting to really kick out the big conflict that we're coming upon. I've gotten a lot of encouragement with this story, and I thank you all for really helping me drive this fic out of my imagination. This chapter is the same on my LJ, so you're not missing anything with this version
It's been a good ride, I look forward to the next few stories I've got up my sleeve and hope that you stick with me.
As for this story, please do not hate me for what I do to them. It's a story, it's fanfic, and it's all imagination. I'm still a few chapters out from the ending, so we're not quite finished with these two, yet. Their predicament is about to get darker and I hope you enjoy the rest of the ride!
Chapter 20
"The Spell has been Cast"
The next day Sirius, Snape, and Remus all sat down around the table of Grimmauld Place. Molly had joined them in a way of making lunch for them as they talked, with her acting as mediator.
Sirius was not too happy about this mission ahead of him and would much rather just stick to not doing anything that he might risk losing Hermione. Instead, he was overruled by the two other Order members that sat on either side of them like looming gargoyles on a tower.
With a monotone, funeral director voice, Snape tried to lure Sirius in, "You should be thrilled, Black; another chance at glory and an opportunity to do some work, for a change."
Snape's voice was anything but sympathetic and dripped of sarcasm. It pleased him that he was going to have the upper hand in this mission.
Sirius narrowed his eyes on the greasy git and mumbled, "Piss off, Snape."
"Sirius, Voldemort requested you and this is the best time to take advantage of it. I know you don't want to leave Hermione out of this, but it's for her own good." Remus added, tilting his head to the side as he watched his best mate sulk more and more, trying so much to avoid this whole issue.
Sirius shook his head, not agreeing with either of them, "I can't just leave her out. She needs to know why the sudden change, or lack of appearance. I can't just walk out. Not now."
Snape focused on Sirius for a few minutes, carefully browsing into his thoughts on the truth of the subject. When he finally came across a hint of what he was alluding to, Snape revealed a slow and sardonic smirk and said, "Black, did we do something foolish and are ashamed to admit it?"
Sirius furrowed his brow a little more, unaware of his mental invasion.
Remus glanced over at Snape who was obviously still reading his mind and then he put the pieces together why Sirius wasn't jumping at the mission. It was true then, he wasn't just shagging her. There was more.
"Sirius, do you love her?" Remus blatantly asked. He saw the way Snape was smirking, so that only meant that Sirius put himself in a position that he was afraid to disrupt.
This time Molly turned around, intrigued with Sirius's answer.
Without a doubt in his heart, Sirius closed his eyes and nodded a definite "yes".
Snape couldn't resist a chuckle that he had found a weakness, "So, you've fallen in love with your godson's best friend. Well, I see that this really does add to the thick cauldron."
Remus smiled fleetingly, proud to discover his friend was capable of something so great, but immediately turned concerned for Hermione's mental state, "Have you told her, Sirius?"
Regrettably, Sirius shook his head.
"Well then, don't now. It's pointless to let her know at this stage. Not to mention what Potter might say." Snape warned.
Remus thought quietly for a few seconds, before agreeing with him, "He's right, Sirius. Don't tell Hermione anything, until this part is over. She may try and fight for you, and worse, get herself killed doing it. I hate to say it, mate, but you're going to have to distance yourself from her."
Sirius felt like his world was closing in on him. First his realization for Hermione, then the Destiny thing from Trelawney the quack, and now this?
"What exactly do I have to do?" Sirius asked as he ran his hands through his hair, only to rest his face into his palms, feeling defeated and already troubled.
Remus glanced over at Snape to see if he was going to explain first, but saw that the potions master was really more interested in Sirius's self pity than stating the facts of the mission.
"In a couple of days, Snape is going to block and dull your mind for you." Remus began.
Sirius looked up at Snape with eyes of loathing. He was absolutely disgusted with anything of Snape invading any part of him.
"He's going to make it so no other Death Eater will be able to read your mind and discover it's not real. You're not exactly going under the Imperious curse, but it will break down your mental mind. You'll need to prepare yourself for it. Take these next couple of days to cleanse your mind of everything and be ready to let it all go. This is going to take an incredible amount of strength and acting on your part, Sirius. I know you can do this." Remus reached out to his friend and rested a comforting hand on his arm. "From there, Snape will you take you to the Death Eater meetings where you'll interact with your cousins."
"Bitches." Sirius sighed under his breath. "If I accidentally kill one of them, will I be held responsible?"
"Yes." Snape was quick to answer. "You don't get a free ride with anything, Black."
Sirius looked up from the comforts of his palms and glared at Snape, not believing that the moron took him seriously.
"You're there to get another eye in. You're there to build confidence with your family and build the trust for Snape in Bellatrix's eyes." Remus continued on.
"Why? Trying to get a shag, are we? Don't bother, mate, you're not her type. Then again, she may stoop low enough." Sirius muttered, resting his head back into his hands.
Snape was quick to snatch his wand and aim it towards Sirius's throat, but before anything was cast, Remus grabbed Snape's wrist and quickly intervened.
"That's enough, Sirius." Remus warned pointing a scolding finger. "Now, you go in with Severus and allow him to lead. No heroics. No rescues. No confessions or righteous acts. You go in with Severus, you listen and learn. You act "dead", but alert. If anyone from our side shows up, you behave like normal. Do not change character, at any cost. The second that you falter and you're out. They'll not believe Snape was able to control you, therefore losing that respect. We need Bellatrix to trust Snape more than anything, so we can get in." Remus patted his friend arm, as it appeared Sirius was losing himself within his own thoughts. "Do you understand, Sirius?"
Quiet, still, and barely breathing, it was as if Sirius had already died. After letting it sink in, he nodded slowly and emerged from behind his shielding palms. He thought about what was ahead of him, the darkness he was going to enter and the state of mind he was going to put himself through.
That night, coming home late from the pub alone, he staggered into his bedroom where his sleeping witch hugged his side of the bed. Her hair was sprayed all around her, her soft skin bare from the sleeping tank she wore and the sheets hugged her form like she was a goddess. He didn't have the heart to disturb her sleep, so he took off his shirt, kicked off his shoes and fell into the chair in the corner. He rested his heavy head to the side and drifted off into his drunken slumber.
In the morning, Hermione stretched her body all over the bed like a big cat. All her limbs reached for the maximum distance and as she yawned ferociously, her hands were restless around her in a blind search. They traveled from one edge of the bed to the other, finding no other warm blooded body sharing it with her. Slightly alarmed, Hermione forced her eyes opened to look around the room and settled them on a sleeping Sirius, passed out in the chair in the corner.
Her face saddened as she got up from the tangles of sheets to go over to him, kiss him awake and ask why he didn't join her in bed. She leaned over his slumped body and put a hand to his chin to wake him.
"Sirius? Honey? Why didn't you come to bed?" She quietly asked, leaning over and letting her curls fall around her face like theater curtains.
He squint his eyes as he yawned, growling at the cruel sun that was sneaking in to invade their bedroom. Once he realized that a sweet angel was touching his face, he immediately forced his eyes to open so he could bask in her beauty.
"I didn't want to wake you," he coughed his morning sounds, "You looked too comfortable."
Hermione smiled at his considerate gesture and shook her head, "Never, not come to bed." She straightened up to go in the kitchen and start the morning coffee, "It's lonely without you."
Their quiet little flat was waking up around him as he slowly staggered into the kitchen to join his wife. She was already seated at their little dinette table, sipping her morning coffee and letting the toast butter itself. Sirius went into the cabinet to find some of the "hang over" potion he always had a supply of, for on this particular morning, his lonely late night drinking was reminding him of the damage he did the night before.
After find his nectar, his favorite elixir, he had his coffee fix itself and went to sit down with Hermione as they read over the muggle Sundays and Daily Prophet together.
"So, what are you going to do, today?" She asked, lifting her cup to her lips and savoring the warm taste.
Sirius looked up from the paper, thankful the little man in his forehead had ceased to bang its hammer along the inside and replied, "Anything you are."
"I was going to go to my parents this afternoon, but I wouldn't think you'd want to come with me. Unless, you want to?" She inquired, secretly hoping that he would join her. He'd only been out with her parents, maybe, twice and he'd never actually been in her muggle home.
He found it in him not to wince at the worst thought ever, but slowly nodded. As much as he dreaded going to her parents' house, he wasn't sure how much time he had left with her and didn't want to miss any opportunities to be by her side.
"They're having a gathering with their neighbors and friends, so there will be loads of muggles there."
Sirius just bit his lip and nodded for her.
This time, Hermione dropped her paper altogether and looked him straight in the eye, "Who are you and what did you do with Sirius Black?"
Sirius couldn't help but grin, but what he was agreeing to do did sound a bit out of character for him. He had to recover a little of what she knew and gave her that flirtatious wink to show her it was him.
"There he is!" She laughed, lifting the paper again to read.
Hermione poked her head back into their bedroom to check on Sirius's progress. She saw him just buttoning up a long sleeved black shirt, pulling it straight to fix any wrinkles, as he looked into the mirror before him.
She smiled, admiring how handsome he looked and walked into the room to look him over. "Not wearing the standard t-shirt and jeans today?"
He unbuttoned the top two buttons by his neck to leave room to breathe and show off his dark beaded necklace. He glanced over at Hermione, "No, thought that if it was your family and friends kind of party, then they probably don't want to be looking at all my tattoos. I've got to try and impress them, at least a little."
She shook her head, tilting it for his kind gesture, "Thank you."
He turned to face her, put his hands on her shoulders and leaned in mischievously, "But, we're taking my motorcycle there." And he gave her a wink, as if to say, I get one thing.
She sighed, giving into his one request, "Fine." And she followed him out of the bedroom, "But, both wheels stay on the ground!"
They arrived at the Granger's house, pulling up on the loud contraption and parking along the side. Sirius followed Hermione into her family house, taking a deep breath as he walked through the threshold for the first time knowing her.
When he first entered the muggle household, he couldn't help but grin at the first thing that met him. Right in front of the entryway hung a motionless picture; a picture perfect family with a very young Hermione, probably aged seven, sitting between her two parents. Sirius noticed the way both parents hand an arm or a hand around her. It was obvious just by knowing her, that Hermione had grown up around love and acceptance and never once, not even when they discovered her gift, did she have to prove herself. Something Sirius never truly knew.
"Sirius?" Hermione whispered, getting his attention as he found himself slowly moving his eyes over the muggle household.
He shook himself from his observations and followed his pretty witch towards the back of the house, where her parents were relaxing at a patio table on the deck of the backyard. He followed her outside, closing the door behind him and looked out to the small, but well manicured yard.
"Hermione, sweetheart, we didn't hear you come in." Mrs. Granger stood up, going to her daughter for a hug while holding a Martini glass.
"Sirius, good to see you, again." Mr. Granger announced, standing up from his chair to shake his hand and pat him on the shoulder.
Sirius nodded, smiled and enjoyed the warm greeting from her parents. It was obvious that the few dinners and apartment gatherings with her parents had begun to smooth things over with them. Sure, they weren't entirely happy with telling people that their only daughter ran away and eloped with a secret beau, but they understood the consequences otherwise, and were pleased to see that she was well protected in the wizarding community. They had told each other, her parents, countless times that this wasn't permanent, until Hermione had sprung it on them that they decided to be together. This brought Sirius into a whole new light in her parents' eyes. Not only was he first responsible for being their daughter's protector, he now entered a new position that he had to respect and honor her.
It was a surprise, at first, but Hermione had smoothed everything over that Sirius was indeed, good to her and had done nothing to force it. As she explained in so few words, "it was a long time coming." She said, regarding her crush.
More people started to filter in through the back door, front door and side fences as the gathering was getting larger. Sirius wasn't sure where to fit in, so he stepped aside to let friends greet each other without standing in the way. He strolled to the farthest corner of the yard where a couple of small children played and went to go talk to them, as the adults made their presence known.
Hermione and her mother were busy in the kitchen, finishing the preparations on some deviled eggs and finger sandwiches when her mother initiated more personal conversation.
"So, you're really okay? Anything you can tell us, you know, from your world?" Mrs. Granger started to pry, still not feeling she knew everything yet, even after all this time.
Hermione shook her head, "It's better not to talk about it, right now, mum. I don't want you and dad to be occupied with thoughts today. We'll talk about it another time."
"And Sirius," her mum started with a pause, "really is, treating you…"
"Mum, he's great." She confirmed, glancing over at her mother. She knew this was a big concern for her. "He's not perfect, but he tries."
Her mother glanced out the kitchen window to see Sirius along the fence, kneeling down and talking to the small kids that were playing alone.
"We know. We just have to ask, now and then. He looks nice in that shirt, Hermione. Did you buy it for him?"
Hermione joined her mother to look out the window at him, smiling when she saw him talking to the little girls. "No, he found that himself. It's black, mum. It's all he practically wears." She added, shaking her head and returning to her sandwich making abilities.
Mrs. Granger cleared her throat and continued cutting baby vegetables, "Has he told you, he loves you, yet?"
Hermione slowed her hands as she thought of how to explain it, other than just saying no, "Not yet, no, but…"
"He does, you know." Mrs. Granger interjected, cutting away, saying it as if she was commenting on the weather.
"I don't know, mum. Can we not talk about this, right now?"
"I'm surprised to see it, to be honest. Never really thought he was capable of it, but I know how much you need him to do this, job, or whatever it is. But I saw it today, right when he walked in and greeted us."
Hermione turned her head towards her mother, as the bread folded themselves over the small cuts of meat she had prepared.
"I know I may be speaking silly things, and you are the witch in the family, but I still felt something the moment he walked in. Something radiated off of him and he's always beaming when he looks at you. Maybe you can't see it," she paused, "But, a mother knows. That's our magic."
Leaving her in her thoughts, Hermione glanced out the window to see Sirius smiling to the two little girls that were now allowing him to spin them, in a dance.
"Do you love him?" her mother simply asked.
Hermione watched the way he smiled, focusing all his attention on the gigging little girls that held his hands, spinning around before him. She watched the way his face showed no hate, or cruelty when he focused on something he cared for. Maybe that's what her mother saw, maybe that's what she was seeing for the first time, because it wasn't really something she was looking for.
With a simple small nod, she answered, "Yes, I do." As if it were something she was afraid to admit, knowing that the last of the walls had been torn down and nothing stood between them.
Mrs. Granger just nodded, a bit worried that this wasn't who they had anticipated as a mate for their only child, but if she was happy with him, they couldn't make decisions for her. Her life, as a witch, was sure to be full of changes and unexpected surprises, and it probably wasn't in her to want to court a man that wasn't like her. Sirius seemed to be what she needed right now, and neither muggle parents were going to tell her otherwise, for their little girl had grown up.
"No more, dear. Finish those sandwiches and take them outside, all right?" her mother instructed, ending their personal conversation and leaving Hermione to her thoughts.
As if a little fire was ignited in Hermione, she smiled to herself. Still a little afraid, she wasn't going to force him to say anything and was just going to let things unfold. They didn't know if they'd be there months from now, or even the next day, so the best thing to do was to let them ride it out and show their own colors, if what her mother had said was true.
"Mr. Sirius, do you have any kids?" One of the little girls he was currently giving a swing asked.
He chuckled, carefully setting her down and changing between the two, "No, but I do have one godson, though. So, he's kind of like a kid."
"Why didn't you bring him here to play?" they giggled with their human swing.
"Because, he's much older than you. He's eighteen, so he would probably be a bit of a bore." Sirius joked about Harry with the little girls.
"Hi, Hermione!" the little girls said in unison as they hung from Sirius's limbs. They were too involved in stretching him to pieces, than giving a proper greeting.
"Hello, Caitlin, Sabrina, what are you doing to Sirius?" She grinned, coming upon a picture of what would normally look painful by the hands of Death Eaters, but something told her two five year old little girls weren't going to do much damage.
"They're trying to split me in two, I think." Sirius laughed, utterly impressed with their young strength, that he was glad he took his hang over potion that morning, otherwise the little man with the hammer might return from his long lunch break. "We were dancing, but then it started to turn ugly."
"Girls, why don't you go inside and get a Popsicle. I heard Mrs. Granger has a secret supply and if you bat your eyes nicely at her, she might just give in." Hermione coaxed, trying to relieve him of his duties.
The little girls immediately dropped hold of Sirius and took off running towards the house, giggling and filling the yard with pleasant sounds.
"I had that situation under control, I'll have you know." Sirius added, straightening the cuffs on his shirt.
Hermione bit her lip and nodded, folding her arms in front of her, "Yes, I could see that. Did you decide that before or after they nearly took you down?"
He pointed at her and said, "But, they didn't take me down!"
She giggled for him and leaned in closer. He immediately pulled away and said, "Your parents will go mental, Love. These are your family friends. I don't think we should..."
"I don't care what they think. Half of them know I'm married; they just don't know who to." She was quick to finish.
With that settling in, he read it all over her face that she was fine with letting it out. He was as much a part of her, as she was of him. Now, if they only got the courage to say what they meant, they'd be damn near perfect. But, we're talking about two very stubborn people that are afraid of getting rejected.
He leaned in just in time to hear Mrs. Granger calling for Hermione and the kiss was chaste. She excused herself and skipped off to meet her mother who was calling from the sliding back doors to come and help her with more food for the guests.
Standing there alone, Sirius looked around him and admired the backyard. It was a perfectly manicured lawn, complete with side garden. A tree swing that the two little girls had taking a new interest in, hung from a hundred year old oak. There were pretty curtains that accented the windows on the moderately sized two-story house, that he knew was as big as the exterior. There was nothing magical about this house, except for the young witch that once inhabited it. He knew that the corner room with the bay window was Hermione's. He could tell from the pastel blue curtains, that she looked out that window and into the sky when she was a child, wondering why she had such special gifts. He imagined her face when she got her letter; that sweet, pretty young face whose mind held all the answers. It was then that she knew where she fit in.
Hermione then said good-bye to the world of perfect lifeless gardens, trees that don't move, dressers without bogarts, postmen, kitchens without house elves and hello to magical motorcycles, enchanted portraits, ogres, and magic wands.
Sirius shook his head from his roaming thoughts and remembered the cigar he put in his pocket before he left the flat, thinking that this was the best time to enjoy it without Charlie telling him every single minute detail about it. Finally, he would be able to enjoy it in peace, without humoring him just to get one out of him.
Just as Sirius lit it, someone standing by the tire swing that the little girls had adopted, made their way over next to him. A slender man, probably Sirius's age, but looking nowhere near how he did, nodded in his direction. This man looked like his forties were knocking on the door with his polo shirt, khaki pants and loafers, whereas Sirius was easily mistaken for a man just entering his thirties with his faded denim blue jeans, boots and black fitted shirt with beaded necklace.
Being polite, the man smiled and took his own cigar out to smoke next to him.
Fucking great. Please don't say a word about your cheap, imitation Cuban, mister.
The man smiled and extended a hand to shake, "Paul,"
Sirius smiled and shook his hand, removing the cigar from his mouth, "Sirius, nice to meet you."
"Likewise." The man added, enjoying a long puff off his cigar. "Cuba." he remarked over his luxury.
"Romania." Sirius replied, holding it with his teeth, seeing if he could impress the man. He had to do something to distract himself from that horrible shirt he was wearing. He secretly hoped it wasn't a family member of Hermione's; otherwise he was going to have to take her aside and make her ask him to change that shirt. The repeated pattern of fish golfing made his stomach churn at the thought that anyone would even market that shirt. Only muggles.
"Romania? Wow. How did you acquire that?" Paul asked, taken with something so exotic. He never even knew that Romania had a market for cigars.
"A friend of mine works over there and he brings them back now and then."
"Really? What does he do over there?"
Sirius was quick, "He works with animals. Saving them, training them, domesticates them. Nothing fancy."
The two men stood in silence for awhile, trying to find something else better to do.
"Known the Granger family for long?" Paul asked, exhaling smoke in rings.
"A few years now, yes." Sirius answered being as vague as possible.
"Here comes their daughter," Paul announced, grinning as Hermione came closer to the two men. "Have you met her?"
Sirius nodded, "Yes. Yes, I've met her. Long time, ago."
"Hi Paul. Can I get you gentlemen anything to drink?" Hermione offered, smiling kindly to them equally.
"Guinness." Paul was quick to answer, his lips covering the tip of his cigar to taste it, once again.
"Surprise me, love."
Giving him a sweet wink back, practically mocking him, she turned on her heel and went back up to the house to get their orders.
"I don't know how long you've known the Grangers, but their daughter has grown up into a mighty fine looking lady." the muggle Paul commented, watching Hermione cross the small lawn and disappear into the house. It was clear, that this man had no idea where Hermione had gone, or worse, who she had married.
Feeling a bit curious in hearing what this man was about to say about his lady, he played ignorant and let the man continue to put his foot in his mouth. "She has, I'll agree."
"I remember her when she was a little young thing, bushy hair, bucked teeth, gangly. But, she really has blossomed into a beautiful girl. I think she's about eighteen, now."
"Nineteen," Sirius was quick to correct. A reminder for even himself that he was still twenty years older than she.
"Nineteen, yes, I suppose that's right. She's been off somewhere at school. Her parents said she got a job working in an office. Something clerical, I think. Really, really bright that girl."
Sirius just nodded in agreement, waiting like a preying tiger, to spring up on this guy if he said one thing out of color about his Hermione.
"Parents said she got involved with an older guy somewhere along the line and she's been off with him. I'll tell ya, that's one lucky guy." Paul seemed to finish, taking his cigar to his lips.
Sirius nodded in agreement as Hermione emerged with two bottles for the men, "I'll have to agree with you, there."
"She probably gives that guy a run for his money," he started to nudge Sirius in a friendly manner, "if you know what I mean."
"I imagine she does." Sirius smiled as Hermione got closer.
She handed the men the two bottles and added for Sirius, "Guinness, I hope that's okay?"
He put his arm around her, quietly thanking her, "It's fine, love."
"Would you come with me? Someone wants to meet you." she asked him, softly taking a hold of his arm.
Sirius nodded and looked back at Paul who stood there, watching, "Oh, did I mention we're married?"
As Sirius took Hermione's open hand, Paul nearly dropped his cigar in embarrassment that he was talking all this time, about another man's wife. He watched the two walk off together, never believing that the little Hermione Granger would ever get wrapped up in a man like him.
The next day marked the first day of Sirius's mission, beginning with Snape's mind blocking spells. Snape had put Sirius under a trance, much to his resentment, and allowed Snape to begin controlling the power and will of his mind to otherwise act as a wall. Through this, his mind was to be cloudy even to himself. If anyone were to try and read it, they wouldn't be able to decipher what the truth was. It was a form of protection that was for Sirius's own good and a tool in making his performance believable.
Remus watched on, acting as a referee, whenever the two men started to anger one another with their rude and vicious comments. Remus trusted Snape with what he was doing, as it was long proven that Severus was, indeed, on the good side. Sirius however, still had his doubts, but it was more out of spite that he felt this way.
"Sit still, you fool, or I'll accidentally make a wrong incantation and erase your entire memory." Severus threatened, watching someone he loathed as much as Harry twitch and shift nervously in his chair.
"Even without a brain, I'll still be able to know who the slimy git is that did it to me. I'll still be able to kick-"
"That's enough, Sirius! Let Severus do his job. You're just making it harder." Remus intervened, sighing as the two men's bickering sounded much like the beginnings of Hermione and Sirius's marriage when they were first thrown together.
"I still don't agree with this, Remus! He's poking around in my thoughts and I feel extremely violated." Sirius pouted, slouching down in his chair as the thoughtless eyes of Snape were on him like a hunting animal.
"The only one who should feel violated, Black, would be Miss Granger and that horrific act you performed on her last week." Snape was quick to comment, making a repulsed face towards what he had just discovered in Sirius's memory mind.
"That's enough, Severus. Please continue and try your least to distract him," Remus begged.
Finally, after the two loathing allies surrendered to the other, Snape was finally able to invade Sirius's mind enough to begin its blocking. It was told that though Sirius would have control over his emotions and thoughts, it was also added that they were, at times, to feel empty and defensive. That was the blocking mechanism kicking in and he might begin thinking or feeling certain things differently.
After about thirty minutes, Sirius started to feel weary and concluded that he was absolutely spent. His frame of mind was already different and he could feel the vast change in thinking so freely. He felt as if his head was heavy, or bored, or somewhat unentertained. Not even feeling up to ride his motorcycle home, he apparated back into his flat from their secret spot outside Grimmauld Place and slept the rest of the day away, creeping into the early evening.
Hermione came home to find her husband napping soundly in their bed and was careful not to wake him. Leaving a note, she went out for the rest of the night with Harry and Ginny. When she returned home, she found him still sleeping and quietly prepared for bed.
When she got up for work in the morning, he still hadn't moved much. When she alerted him of her departure for work, he seemed to be still completely sapped of his energy that he barely said good-bye to her as she left. Concern fell on Hermione, but not too much, as she probably guessed he was coming down with a cold or something to put him "out of it."
When Hermione returned home that evening, Sirius had left her a note letting her know that he had gone out with Harry and didn't expect to be home at a responsible hour. Accepting that, she had dinner by herself and retired to bed with a book.
True to his word, Sirius stumbled in drunk around three in the morning and didn't want to wake up Hermione. With his mind already cloudy enough, he managed to make the decision to not invade the bedroom and passed out on the couch, instead. He kicked off his shoes and removed his jacket, but he couldn't be bothered with anything else and fell into the cushy folds of the sofa.
In the middle of the night, Hermione's sixth sense alerted her something was not right, so she got up to check on him. To her surprise, there was nothing wrong with him. She looked him over; stretched out on their sofa like an unaware frat guy with limbs all draped over the sides of the couch. Her heart was relieved to know he was, at least, home and covered him with an extra blanket from the bedroom. She returned to their bed alone and started her morning routine when her muggle alarm clock alerted her to start her day.
Already a little offset, Hermione's day didn't seem complete. Her workload was average, her assignments were uneventful, and her mind seemed to be elsewhere; her mind was on Sirius. She knew that he was missing his time with Harry and had said from the beginning that she'd understood he needed to get away from time to time to keep that bond with him, but something else seemed to be preoccupying her thoughts.
She came home to another note, advising her that he had some urgent business with Remus and was going to be home late. Like before, she ate dinner alone and fell asleep under a book in their bed. She started to stir awake a few hours later to the sound of Sirius coughing as he entered the flat. She thought him a bit inconsiderate of her sleeping, but was still relieved that he was home. He staggered into the bedroom and saw her beginning to stretch from her slumber.
"Sorry, didn't think you were home." He apologized, pulling off his t-shirt and going into the bathroom to get ready for bed.
"Didn't think I'd be home? Where else would I be?" Hermione asked, waking up enough to set her book down on the side table and fix her pillows to go to sleep properly, rather than propped up.
"I dunno, out with Harry or something?" he called out; his mouth full of toothpaste.
"You know I try not to go out on nights I have to be up early for work." She replied, slightly put-off. "You all right?"
He came back into the bedroom and stripped off his jeans to change into his linen pajama pants, and tossed the discarded clothes on a chair. He pulled the comforter back and slid himself in, oblivious to her eyes of concern.
"Fine," he answered quickly.
She hummed no reply and curled up next to him, placing an arm over his waist as rested her head on his chest. Mechanically, he pulled her in close and laid his hand on her back as he drifted off to sleep.
Two weeks had gone by and Sirius was sitting in the kitchen of Grimmauld Place, with his elbows on the table and his face in his palms. Never in all his days, did he remember his body feeling worse than it did now, even with the strongest of hang-overs. From Snape warping his mind with all the blocking spells in the beginning, to pretending to be a Death Eater's puppet, to lying to the one person that mattered most to him, Sirius was forgetting himself quickly. He wasn't himself, his diet was shite, his appearance looked disheveled and he had this constant feeling of nausea washing over him from time to time.
"I'll be so happy when this is through, Remus. I've never felt so awful and out of touch before. Put me back inside the Veil, for fucksakes. I swear, Snape's gone inside my head and rearranged a few things while he was at it." Sirius growled, rubbing his face as if trying to massage the fatigue away.
Remus nodded, hopeful for his friend and poured him a cup of strong coffee. "How is Hermione, at home?"
Sirius sighed, finally removing the rough palms from his face and said, "She's all right, I guess. No, I lied, she's not good. I can tell she's really holding back what she wants to say, but it's not good for her. I haven't been home much, with her. I've told her there's been stuff you and I are planning, I've lied and used Harry quite a few times and it's really just catching up to me. Occasionally, we'll argue over little things, but nothing big. Yet. It's just really putting a strain on us, Moony."
"I can guess."
"I just wish I could tell her."
"You can't, Sirius!" Remus was quick to remind.
Sirius rolled his eyes and slumped back in his chair like a petulant child, "I know, Remus. It's just...I cannot wait for this to be over. I want things to be like they used to, with her. I don't feel like myself, I don't act like myself, and personally, I don't like myself at all, right now. Hermione stays home, while I'm out running around with that git, listening to my own family plot horrendous things against us." he looked up a bit worried, "I'm going to need therapy after this, Moony."
Remus looked at his friend and paused. He saw a small smile creep across his friend's face and then finally was relieved that at least, a little of the real Sirius was still in there.
After morning coffee, Sirius went back home to sleep it off for the rest of the day. He apparated back into the living room from the secret spot outside Grimmauld Place and just when he "popped" in, he was met by the severe voice of Hermione, dashing in from the kitchen, holding a frying pan.
"Where, in the name of Merlin, have you been?" She bellowed, still holding a frying pan from her breakfast.