Aren't you spoiled witches and wizards!
Another Chapter!
You will need to thank my beautiful Beta babe Immy!
I sent her quite a few chapters and she is smashing through them so well.
(She is also right now proofing more as we speak!)
Also want to shout out to the awesome peeps partying at the Sydney Mardi Gras!
Their theme is creating equality, something so many countries (And leaders) struggle to accept.
Currently listening to the spotify tunes for the Mardi Gras while typing away.
Remember everyone, love is love is love

Much Love,
Natstar
XOXOXOX

SHATTER ME

Chapter 12

Hermione awoke extremely early the next morning. She was showered dressed and out the door before Sirius awoke. When she had made her way to the great hall for breakfast she found the Gryffindor team already there yawning and eating breakfast sleepily. Or in Ron's case staring at his plate of food looking like he would vomit. Ginny looked up and grinned waving Hermione over to sit by her.

"Morning," Hermione said to everyone as she joined them. She poured herself a coffee and began to pick at the plate of fruit she had selected.

"Isn't Sirius meant to be with you?" Ginny asked leaning over to talk to Hermione quietly. Hermione's cheeks tinged a little as she turned to Ginny.

"Yes, but I wasn't comfortable encountering him this morning. I am sure he will find me when he gets up." She answered quietly.

"Why? What happened last night?" Ginny was smirking now. Hermione was now starting to really wish that she never told her about her dreams.

"It wasn't what happened last night that was the issue." She hissed, taking a bite of pear. Ginny's mouth dropped open. She grabbed a stack of toast and stood up, pulling Hermione up as well.

"Ginny, where are you going?" Harry asked.

"Hermione and I need to have a chat before Quidditch. I'll meet you in the change rooms." She smiled at Harry, who nodded at Hermione looking concerned, as the two girls retreated as fast as Hermione could go with the crutches.

As soon as they stepped out of the castle Ginny turned to Hermione, "OK spill." Hermione looked at her friend and sighed. As they walked slowly to the pitch Hermione explained what had happened the night before she left for Hogwarts. Ginny choked on her toast when Hermione told her that she kissed him while she was still asleep. She told her that she was dreaming of kissing him. She then told her about last night.

"Merlins beard! No wonder you left this morning." Ginny chortled, handing Hermione a piece of toast as they sat down in the change rooms.

"Yes. I imagine that there will be a lot of awkward moments. I didn't want to start today with one." Hermione groaned and bit into the toast.

"Well," Ginny grinned at Hermione, "He is pretty dreamy, and at least you know he has the hots for you as well."

"Who has the hots for Hermione?" Ron asked as he tromped in, overhearing Ginny's comments.

"Wouldn't you like to know" Ginny snorted. Hermione stood blushing slightly.

"I better go. It's going to take me ages to climb the stairs. Good luck!" Hermione said and made her way out. Hermione looked up at the stands and sighed heavily. She felt she would be lucky to make it to the top of the stands in time to see Harry catch the snitch, let alone the whole game.

"Don't even think about using magic Princess." Sirius's voice came from behind, making her jump. She turned around and saw him leaning against the entryway to the stands eating a piece of toast.

"Well, I am not having you carry me up!" She snarled, as he finished his toast and brushed the crumbs from his fingers. She turned away from him and began climbing the stairs slowly. She reached the fourth stair when he vanished her crutches and scooped her up as she suddenly became unbalanced.

"Sirius! Put me down! And give me back my crutches!" She growled at him.

"You will refer to me as Mr Black, Miss Granger. And if you think I am giving you the crutches when you look like you would whack me with them, think again Princess." He grinned at her, and continued to climb.

"Sirius- Mr Black! Put me down this instant!" She tried to wriggle out of his grasp, stopping his progress.

"Hermione, I can either carry you like this or over my shoulder. Your choice. They are also your only choices." He waited as Hermione narrowed her eyes at him. She crossed her arms across her chest and huffed.

"I thought you would see it my way." He said, still smiling and continued to climb. When they came out into the stands Sirius climbed to the highest seats and sat her down; taking a seat beside her. Hermione watched as the stands filled and their section filling with fellow Gryffindor's and quite a few girls from other houses. Hermione soon connected the reason why so many girls were now sitting nearby when a seventh year Slytherin came over to her to greet her nicely and ask how she was. Hermione's eyebrows rose at the Slytherin girl. The girl didn't notice as she was too busy blinking her lashes at Sirius.

Hermione rolled her eyes. Sirius for his part was extremely courteous to every girl who stammered their hellos to him, politely declining about the seat on his left that was vacant. When Remus and Tonks appeared Hermione sighed in relief it wasn't another simpering female student. Tonks took her seat next to Hermione and Remus next to Sirius.

"Thank you for the help Hermione." Tonks said leaning in so Hermione could hear amongst the noise.

"Oh how did it go?" Hermione's eye lit up, glad for a distraction. Hermione watched as Tonks smiled serenely.

"It was perfect. I can't thank you enough Hermione." Tonks said giving her a one armed hug.

On the other side Remus leaned in to Sirius, "So, am I imagining things or are there an extraordinary amount of young witches sitting in this section?"

Sirius snorted. "Yeah, I felt like I was having flashbacks to when we were at school, watching James play."

"You are enjoying it aren't you?" Remus chuckled at his friend.

"I'd enjoy it more if for all the girls here, there is only one I'd care to look at me as adoringly as that Slytherin did, though she seemed more predatory than adoring." Sirius mock shivered.

Their conversations were interrupted as the deafening roar of the crowds indicated that the two teams had walked onto the pitch. From their positions they could make out the red and green specks that made up the Gryffindor and Slytherin teams. The game kicked off and everyone became focused on the game. The Gryffindor's cheering each time the team scored and the saves Ron pulled. Hermione grudgingly had to be impressed with Ron's efforts and skill.

"What is Harry doing? The other seeker spotted the snitch!" Hermione heard Sirius mutter. Yelling with the crowd as Harry raced after the Slytherin Seeker. The crowd gasped as it seemed the Slytherin Seeker would get the snitch. Then with a deafening roar Harry seized the snitch out of the oppositions grasp claiming Gryffindor's victory. Remus and Sirius stood cheering for the team.

"Like a pair of school boys." Tonks whispered in Hermione's ear. Hermione snorted with laughter. Both men turned hearing the two witches laughed together. All that did was set them off further.

They waited as the crowds began to disperse from the stands, mainly most of the senior girls to exit the stands. When the last girl who glared at Hermione and stormed off, did Sirius finally stand up.

"Alright Princess. The easy way or over my shoulder? Your choice?" He was smirking at her. Hermione huffed and looked to Remus for support. Remus chuckled and began stepping down away from them. Hermione narrowed her eyes at the retreating wizard.

"I never knew werewolves could be such cowards." She growled. Remus just laughed louder as he put his arm out to Tonks, waving a farewell to them.

"What is it going to be Hermione?" Sirius brought her back to her predicament. Hermione sat there with her arms crossed. Sirius merely awaited her response.

"You're going to make me say it, aren't you?" Hermione seethed.

"Well, for once Hermione, I must say that was a rather slow response." Sirius mused, watching as Hermione realise the trap she was in.

"NOT over your shoulder." Hermione said through her teeth. Watching as Sirius bowed.

"As my Princess commands." He said and scooped her up. He began stepping down through the seats to get to the stairs.

"You might want to put your arm around me. It is going to be steep all the way." He said softly, Hermione made the mistake of looking down from the height she was at and practically choked him as both arms now clung to his shoulders, hiding her head against him.

"I should bring you up here more often." Sirius said softly, cringing as Hermione's nails dug sharply in through his robes, in response.

"Just don't drop me." Her muffled voice squeaked.

"I would never drop you Princess" he said tenderly as he descended slowly.

"We are on the ground now." He whispered into her hair. Hermione lifted her head, still pale from fear. He set her on her feet and flicked his wand calling the crutches for her. Hermione took them gratefully and leaned on them as they made their way back to the castle.

"Ah. Miss Granger, I heard you had returned to Hogwarts." Professor Slughorn greeted them coming from the opposite direction.

"And Mr Black! It has been quite some time." Professor Slughorn greeted his ex-student, "Did you know, Miss Granger, that this scallywag here was responsible for the renovations of the East wing corridor on the fifth floor in '75?" The Professor confided to Hermione. Hermione shook her head raising a brow towards Sirius.

"He and his misfit friends had somehow managed to coat the whole corridor in a slimy smelly substance. Each time a teacher or student tried to remove it the walls seemed to secrete more of the slime. Brilliant magic!" Professor Slughorn beamed. Hermione didn't know what to say. It seemed that she was not the only one. However she was saved as Professor Slughorn continued,

"I still have not received your RSVP to my little Christmas Party Miss Granger. Can I take your acceptance now? Excellent." He answered for her before turning to Sirius, "Mr Black you are also more than welcome to join for the party."

Sirius smiled, "I'd be delighted." He nodded to the Wizard allowing him to ascend before them. Hermione followed behind slightly baffled by the teacher. When they reached their rooms Hermione retreated to her room shutting the door.

She took advantage of the window seat and curled up on it with a book she needed to read for her History of Magic essay. The sun was setting beyond the lake with the late afternoon light streaming in when the sound of her door shutting brought her out of goblin wars and land rights for centaurs and back into the real world. Hermione looked up and saw Ginny leaning against her bedpost smirking.

"I had a feeling you were hiding from everyone." Ginny said as she moved and sat down on the other end of the window seat, looking out at the view watching the sky change colours as the sun sank lower.

"I can see why you came in here to hide." Ginny finally turned back to Hermione.

"Yes, I almost feel guilty that this accommodation is so much nicer than living with Lavender and Pavarti. That and all we have to look out over is the side of the mountain." Hermione said.

"Well you are not getting comfortable. I have been sent to kidnap you up to the Gryffindor common room for the party." Ginny announced, "Now up you get. Our team won and I want my best friend to party with me!"

Hermione groaned, reluctantly getting up from her comfortable position. She pulled on her trainers and grabbed her crutches, following Ginny out of her room. She looked around the lounge slightly surprised not seeing Sirius around. She shrugged. She had spent hours in her room reading, oblivious to what else was happening outside of it.

"How did you get in Ginny?" Hermione asked as she shut the door to her room.

"Harry. He told me the password. He told me when I said I was going to hunt you down." They made their way slowly up to the party, noticing quite a few students in the corridor as they got closer. Ginny opened the portrait and gave Hermione a quick smile before climbing through. She heard cheers as Ginny returned. Then Hermione came through the portrait and everyone cheered again. The party was in full swing as she looked around. Music was blasting from a muggle radio, magically enhanced so it was nearly deafening. Someone had clearly been to the kitchens as large platters of food filled the small tables scattered around the room.

Hermione found Harry, grinning from ear to ear slightly tipsy. He staggered up when he saw Hermione and gave her a big hug.
"Hermione! You made it!" He beamed at her. Hermione wrinkled her nose as the smell of alcohol from Harry assaulted her nostrils.

"Congratulations Harry! Your team were superb!" Hermione pushed him back onto the couch before he toppled them both over. Harry pulled her down next to him, sliding her crutches under the couch. Someone went past and handed them both a butterbeer, disappearing through the crowd dancing in front of them.

Hermione had only taken a sip of her drink when someone yanked her off the couch onto the dancefloor.

"Hermione! You're here!" Ron shouted. Hermione tried to pull away, but not before his lips mashed against hers in a bruising kiss; the smell and taste of alcohol invading her senses. Several people around began cheering. Hermione shoved him hard breaking the kiss. The next thing Ron knew was the stinging slap across his face and the sudden wetness as she poured her butterbeer over his head. The crowd grew suddenly quiet as they reacted to Hermione's rejection of Ron.

Hermione didn't bother to go back to the couch for her crutches, instead turning on her foot and stormed out of the common room. Adrenaline fuelled her as she made her way towards the Astronomy tower. Determination and stubbornness got her to the top when she collapsed against the turret crying as she wiped her mouth with her sleeve to try and remove the feeling of Ron against her.

The stars in the sky above her glimmered down brightly overhead; silent watchers as she struggled to control her sobs and emotions. She wiped her eyes and stared up at the inky sky and its glimmering lights. She found the star clusters she had been studying and mentally began going through what she had learned in her head to distract her. She didn't hear the echoes on the stairs until Sirius appeared at the top of the stairs.

He had something bundled in his arms and realised it was her cloak as he draped it around her shoulders, sinking down gracefully to sit next to her. She didn't notice that she was shivering until he put an arm around her, and began to rub her arm to put some warmth back into her body.

"I normally would ask what happened, but when I went to find you in Gryffindor Tower several students seemed more than willing to provide a full account to me." Sirius said as his hand rubbed her arm to warm her up. Hermione leaned into him, as tears began leaking from her eyes again.

"I saw what you did to Ron too. I have to say I'm impressed. Just remind me not to ever get you that mad." Hermione snickered, wiping her eyes.

"He deserved it." She said stonily staring into the darkness. She felt Sirius chuckle against her.

"In some respects, I deserve a slap as well. I have been behaving equally bad." Hermione looked down at her hands frowning.

"Yes, I would have to agree." Hermione said softly. "You have been as big an ass as Ron lately."

They lapsed into silence, both looking up at the sky, watching the constellations as they slowly traversed across the heavens. She sighed softly, enjoying the warmth and feeling of Sirius next to her.

"It's funny," Hermione broke the silence, as she continued to stare up at the stars. "Every time I am around you, I feel like I am missing something." She said softly. Sirius had stopped looking at the sky. He was now watching her in the dim light.

"It's almost like we were having a conversation that was half finished. And I feel like it was me that was cut off." She was frowning, trying so hard to piece the blank space in her mind back together. She drew a breath and looked back down to her hands.

"Sirius, can I ask you something? And can you promise you will answer me?" Her voice tremored slightly, as she weighed her question in her mind.

"You can ask, but I can't promise I will be able to answer." He said finally. Hermione turned her gaze upon him, studying him. He had almost thought she was not going to answer when she did ask.

"Do you know where I went, when I fell through the archway?" Her voice steady as she continued to study him. He studied her and knew that he was never going to lie to her, especially if it meant getting her back, all of her back.

"Yes, I know where you went." He answered. Hermione nodded, her eyes glancing away as she considered the information she had and re-evaluated everything. Was she ready to know? He didn't know and at the same time was terrified when she did.

"Sirius?" Hermione had her gaze back on him.

"Hm? Yes?" Sirius drew his thought back to the present.

"Would you be able to help me back down the tower?" She asked softly. Sirius chuckled, nodded and stood up.

"Where are your crutches?" He asked, as he pulled her up to stand.

"When I hit Ron, I just wanted to leave. They are still in the Gryffindor Common Room." Hermione said flatly.

"Come on Princess, let's get you to bed." He said, scooping her up, and made his way down to the third floor, via several shortcuts that Hermione didn't know about. However when he said the password to get into their rooms, she was already asleep.

He carried her through to their rooms, carrying her to her bed. He pulled his wand out with difficulty and flicked it at the bed so the covers drew back. He lay her down and took off her shoes before tucking her in, placing a warming charm on the sheets. Crookshanks jumped up onto the bed and curled up by her side, looking intently at Sirius. He snorted at the cat, feeling intensely jealous. Shaking his head he walked out shutting the door to let her sleep.

Sirius moved to a cabinet and pulled out a large bottle firewhiskey. Opening it he drank directly from the bottle as a nightcap, going through the evenings events. He had been in a meeting with the Order. It had been confirmed that Voldemort's interest was directly from Pettigrew's own memories. According to Snape, the process of extracting the memories and information had unhinged the man and has formed an obsession with Hermione. Snape had also made a snide comment regarding healthy obsessions, before moving on to exactly what Voldemort wanted with her.

Dumbledore was concerned that it may also be what the Unspeakables from the Department of Mysteries wanted from her. Her memories. Particularly her memories on how far she had gone back in time. Both sides suspected that she had gone farther than had ever been possible. Time Turners could only ever take the holder back as far to the moment they were born. There had been no certain proof that it was possible for a person to go back farther in time. Until Hermione. Voldemort currently had an advantage from Wormtails memories, but as Hermione had diligently ensured the traitor was a risk even the memories that the Dark Lord managed to unlock did not give him the whole story.

Sirius undressed slowly, as he considered what they did know. Dumbledore mentioned that Harry and Dumbledore were working on something, in secret. The information was only to be divulged between Harry and the Headmaster. He advised that he trusted Harry in whom he chose to share the information. Dumbledore insisted the biggest risk was on Hermione. Her memories were the key to a plan of dangerous proportions if they could use her and the information that she had to send their side back in time, wreaking havoc on the present.

Sirius slid into bed, stretching and groaning, enjoying the feel of the cool sheets against him. He and Dumbledore had continued a private conversation regarding the memories that Hermione had given to Dumbledore prior to her returning to her timeline from when she fell into the veil. Dumbledore assured that those memories would be kept safe. And if necessary would be used as a final resort to prompt Hermione in remembering. Both had agreed that only in the direst of circumstances should that be used. So for now, they were to allow the natural course of things for Hermione to try and remember it at her own pace, and also to be able to come to terms with much of it as well.

Sighing, Sirius rolled over. He knew he needed sleep, yet there was so much going on he knew it was going to be quite a while before it would come.