Disclaimer: I am not J.K. Rowling. All characters, places, descriptions, etc (unless original and created by me) belong to her.

Summary: It was a small pack, of course, just the five of them, but together they were something wild. Hermione finds herself in the Marauders' Era with four new best friends.

A/N: Part 2/4. I absolutely love these chapters, and I really, really, really hope you all do too.

Chapter 29: Vulnerant Omnes, Ultima Necat*

Lily was the first to arrive. She looked like she hadn't slept since Christmas. She brought along with her enough food to feed an army, and with a few clever stasis charms, the Potters wouldn't need to fix a meal for weeks. She didn't speak much when she was there, just listened.

She listened to Charlus when she brought food into the study where he was arranging the details for Dorea's funeral. She listened at Sirius' door for his breathing when she replaced the untouched plate of food outside his door. And James…

James didn't want to be in the house. He felt caged there. He didn't mind seeing his mother's favorite blanket on the chair in the living room. He didn't mind smelling her perfume when he walked into her closet. But he did mind the stifling atmosphere of grief. Silently, he grabbed his broom and took to the skies behind the house. For a while, he raced around, reaching enormous speeds and dashing toward the ground, but after a while he just hovered, just hovered alone with his thoughts.

Lily watched from the window, just in case he lost control and needed help. Her breath caught in her chest with every Wronski Feint. And when he stopped—Lily heaved Sirius' broom outside, only glancing behind once in case the Black boy had descended from his room. But, of course, he hadn't.

She was a little shaky at first and thanked Merlin that James didn't see her take off. She was slow but she finally reached him. She settled there beside him and didn't speak for a moment. She just reached over and brushed the lone tear from his cheek. She shifted around so that she was facing him and waited.

James didn't speak for five minutes. He just stared at the ground, focusing on his breathing as tears started to fall. But when he finally looked up at Lily and started to speak, he didn't stop.

They sat there for hours, past the point of discomfort. Lily never said a word. She let James do all the talking. He spoke about memories of his mother. He told her how his parents first met. He ranted about the poor quality of the healers at St. Mungo's and then praised the aid assigned to his mother's room. He vented about how he didn't understand the way his father and Sirius were grieving. And he cried. And Lily did, too. And he kept talking.

Sirius Black was not in his room. But he didn't want to be looked for. He charmed the radio in his room to play back his breathing and sleeping sounds, knowing just how persistent Lily was. He locked the door from the inside and thanked Merlin he was of age.

Apparating to the middle of London, Sirius was overtaken by sounds and smells. Everything had seemed so muted at the Potters', and now…

He made one and only one stop. A pack of cigarettes. Putting one between his lips, he spun on the spot, disappearing once again.

Hermione and Remus stood outside the door for what seemed like a lifetime. Neither were sure of how to approach the situation. Yes, Hermione had lost people before, grandparents and an aunt and most recently, Dumbledore and Mad-Eye, but she was at a loss. Remus, on the other hand, had never had someone close to him die before. He was confused as to how he should react. He clearly knew Dorea Potter well enough to validate grieving, but he felt that surely it was his duty to comfort his friends.

When they finally decided to enter the house, they were surprised by how… functional the family seemed. Charlus was in the kitchen fixing another of Lily's casseroles, and Lily and James were in the living room looking through photographs. Remus immediately went to the kitchen to offer his services, knowing that, while he was grieving, James still wouldn't appreciate him interrupting this sacred one-on-one time with Lily. Hermione watched Remus leave and offered a silent hello to Lily and James. Lily lifted her head and looked upward, giving Hermione a hopeful smile. Hermione nodded and headed upstairs to look for the young Sirius Black.

His door was locked, and a plate of cold food sat in front of the door. Hermione rolled her eyes and pulled out her wand. After a whispered alohomora, she quietly and slowly turned the doorknob. Pushing the door open, she braced herself for whatever Sirius was going to throw her way.

But he wasn't there.

Hermione stood for a second, her mouth open. She looked behind her, trying to decide if she should let the others downstairs know. Shaking her head, she stepped into the room and locked it behind her. Where does Sirius Black go to hide?

She disapparated away.

The Shrieking Shack was cold and Hermione cursed herself for forgetting her jacket. Despite the absence of werewolves, the Shack seemed more inclined to the paranormal now that she was here all alone. Hermione called out to Sirius and climbed the shaking stairs. She searched the house high and low with no success. Confused and tired, she fell down onto the bed upstairs. Where does Sirius Black go when he's sad?

And then, she remembered.

As creepy as the Shrieking Shack had been alone, the passage to the One-Eyed Witch was worse. Despite the light emanating from her wand, Hermione could feel the heavy weight of the darkness that cloaked her. The walk felt longer than usual, but when she finally emerged, Hermione felt a wave of energy and determination. Making her way through the castle, Hermione focused on each step she took, trying to be as quiet as possible. Sirius Black was, after all, a creature easily spooked.

Hermione stopped before the door that led to the roof of the Astronomy Tower and stood there, breathing slowly. She was afraid of what she would find.

The ground was littered with cigarettes, some violently stamped out, some still clutching on to their last embers, and some barely touched at all. Sirius was standing at the edge of the tower, staring at the stars, a cigarette between his lips.

For a moment all Hermione could do was stare at this man before her. She knew Sirius Black was no boy and hadn't been for quite some time now. She thought back to her life before, that night in Regulus' room. As she watched his smoke drift into the night sky, Hermione realized how guarded Sirius truly was. She still didn't know how to comfort him.

Taking a few tentative steps forward, Hermione watched Sirius and hoped she wouldn't scare him away. When he didn't even spare her a glance, she walked up to his side.

Neither spoke and neither looked away even though their necks itched to turn. Sirius pulled the cigarette from his lips and exhaled. Hermione's nose twitched as the smoke billowed past her. Suddenly Sirius turned around, leaning on the railing behind him.

He stared out at the mess of the floor before him. His mouth folded in disgust as he sent the cigarette in his hand to join the others. Hermione finally turned to look at him.

"Sirius." She spoke his name like a prayer.

Sirius closed his eyes but didn't turn to look at her. He pulled the cigarette carton from his pocket and flipped open the top. A single cigarette remained. He just stared at the lone survivor.

"She hated these. Never told me to stop, but she hated them." Hermione didn't have to ask whom he was talking about. "I never even thought to quit."

Hermione reached out an arm but let it drop to her side. She didn't know if she could touch him.

"I'm done," he whispered, flipping the cover of the carton closed. "That was it. I'm officially done."

"There's one left." Hermione's voice left her in a soft breath.

"And there'll always be one left." As Sirius shoved the carton back into his pocket, Hermione had a feeling he wasn't talking about smoking anymore.

She moved to stand in front of him, staring at his hands because she was too unsure to look at his eyes.

"You're not alone, Sirius," she whispered as she reached for his hand. "I'm not going to leave you alone."

Sirius pulled his hand from hers and Hermione's heart broke. She shut her eyes, wondering if Sirius Black could ever be whole. But then his arms were there, around her, pulling her close. She let out the breath she didn't know she was holding and relished the warmth of his embrace. She wrapped her arms around him as his head fell to her shoulder. His chest rose and fell in silent sobs. And Hermione held him.

A/N: *They All Hurt, the Last One Kills