Hello lovlies,

As Promised I am trying very hard to complete this for you all.

In case you don't know these final chapters are NOT beta read.

If I was to keep waiting for that we would never have this story finished.
And I want you to at least get to the very end.

I am technically a few chappy's ahead of here. but as I also need to read and edit I'm switching between both.
When I do finish typing the current chappy I am on Ill try and add the next one before moving to typing the next.
For now you are going to have to just live with what I have given so far.

My heart is in conflict on what happens after this adventure.
but for now lets stay in our present - futures and pasts can wait.

Please keep the reviews coming. I love that you have loved this story. And you do not know how much it warms me to see your review alert to hit my email.

XOXO

Natstar

SHATTER ME

Chapter 28

Remus knocked lightly on the door before opening it, without waiting for a reply. Not that he would have received one as he took in Sirius's prone form and bottles of empty whisky bottles littering the floor. Remus swore softly and drew his wand flicking it first at the curtains allowing the morning light to beam through. Sirius flinched at the sudden intrusion of light, clenching the dusty, half-drunk bottle closer to him.

"Where is she Sirius?" Remus's quiet voice seemed to echo against his ears. Groaning he shifted to glare blearily up at his best friend. Remus just stood impassively waiting for his friend as he sat up and leaned against the bed for support. Sirius fumbled in the pocket and drew a crumpled letter. It flew from his hand to Remus's so fast Sirius blinked at his empty hand.

"Fleur took her to France?" Remus looked up from the note. Sirius shrugged, or at least that was what Remus thought Sirius was trying to do as he slumped to one side.

"Mmmparrennlly sho." Sirius grimaced, lifting the bottle again to his mouth. Remus eyed his best friend. He was still dressed in the dress robes from the wedding, which was four days before. Sirius seemed to remember some semblance of time as he pointed the bottle at Remus.

"Arrn you meant tah beh on yer honeymoonnnneeyyy?" Sirius asked, squinting up at him so he could only see two sets of Remus's not four.

"We came back early. Dora's morning sickness is now all-day sickness and wants to hex anyone that eats in front of her."

Sirius snorted as he lifted the bottle again emptying the bottle. Almost on cue Kreacher appeared, shuffling past Remus muttering about how horrible his master is, and how his grandfather would be turning in his grave for all the bottles that had left the cellar, to be wasted on an ungrateful wastrel. Kreacher handed the full bottle for the empty one and shuffled out, continuing his mutterings.

"How much have you had to drink?" Remus asked as Kreachers mutterings faded downstairs. Sirius shrugged and pulled the cork out with his teeth spitting it out across the room.

"Losht count after remembering how much she scared the shit out of me" He took a deep swig.

"Moony, she wanted to kill them." His voice solemn, "I wanted to curse them sure, but she was ready to rip them apart." Sirius waved the bottle widely not caring the contents spilling out. Sirius looked bleakly back at Remus.

"Moony, she wasn't using her wand."

Remus's eyes widened, he had seen the damage created. When had she started learning wandless magic? He wondered. Not even Dumbledore did high level spells without his wand. Most witches and wizards could in some way manage small spells like lighting and extinguishing a candle light or summon items short distance, even their wands. But where there needed complex casting and concentration took great skill and even then mastering the precision like one could with a wand took even greater effort. Yet given the destruction wrought, it would seem that precision was something she had yet master.

"Are you afraid of her?" Remus asked, wondering himself if he was.

"No, I'm afraid for her." Sirius whispered. Remus nodded. There was a lot both needed to discuss, but Remus needed Sirius sober.

"Let's get you cleaned up. I suspect that Bill and Fleur will be bringing her home soon." Remus hauled Sirius to his feet. Not many knew the strength Remus actually had behind the polite professor façade that he wore. Sirius tried to protest, but wasn't in any condition to stop Remus from shuffling him into the bathroom and straight into the shower. Somewhere along the way he seemed to remember his bottled and tried to drink from it.

"Oh no, I think you have definitely had enough Padfoot." Remus stepped away vanishing the bottle and pointed his wand at the faucets. Sirius cried out in shock as the cold water blasted him clothes and all. As the temperature warmed and steam began to fill the room did he remember that he should be disrobing and began fumbling with the buttons.

Remus saved him the trouble and vanished the clothes straight into the laundry basket and handed the soap to Sirius, before walking out letting the wizard to deal with his ministrations. Dora was at the kitchen table with a cup of tea and a bowl of soup.

"I heard the water turn on. Did you at least let it warm up before you dumped him in?" She pointed her wand at the pot of soup sending a ladleful into a bowl directing it to the table. Remus snorted shaking his head as he brought the loaf of bread over, cutting them each a slice and lathering it in butter.

"Dora he has spent the last four days intoxicated, moping and depressed. And considering the amount of empty bottles in his room, I am rather surprised by his ability at speech." As he spoke Dora had torn small pieces of bread and began slowly eating. Stopping when he stopped talking. Remus sighed, and told her of the conversation and what the letter said. He discussed his thoughts on Hermione's skills, watching as Dora listened while she ate. She smiled warmly at him.

"Darling you have barely touched your food. Eat up. I might see if I can go find an owl and see what Moody might have to say about security on Harry." She stood and moved around the table kissing him on the temple, leaving Remus to eat in peace. As soon as she left he called the pot of soup over and added more to his bowl, famished.

He was drying the dishes when Sirius appeared in the doorway. Neither spoke as a large mug of coffee floated over to the table. Remus indicated to the bowl he set aside. Sirius shook his head sitting heavily and taking a sip.

"Am I a fool?" he asked setting the cup down.

Remus chuckled. "If you are, does it matter? You have always loved her. And she was always more than either of us could know."

"We live in a world of magic. But she stood out above it all. A beacon of pure light in the dark tempest of my childhood"

"Are you having second thoughts?" Remus's casual question, snapped Sirius's head up.

"Moony, I'm drunk, not insane. I love her with all that I have. And she is soon also to be the mother of my child."

They stared at each other long and hard until Remus finally nodded. "Good."

/\/\/\/\/\

The next morning it seemed like chaos had descended as trunks from Hogwarts arrived and zoomed off to rooms. The library fireplace had been set up for Harry to floo directly there from Dumbledore's fireplace. Apparently he wasn't the only one, bringing with him Ginny, Luna and Demelza. They seemed to have arrived just before Fleur Bill and Hermione came through with a multitude of bags. Sirius barely saw Hermione as she was promptly herded upstairs by Fleur and Ginny with Demelza and Luna following behind.

Sirius, himself was alternately herded by Harry and Bill into the kitchen. Remus already there, uncapping and floating over bottles of butterbeer to each of them as they sat down. Bill groaned as he sat and drank half his beer before sitting back in his chair.

"I forgot how much Fleur loves spending other people's money," Bill grinned at Sirius. Sirius grunted and shrugged in reply. He was currently the only one at the table with a large mug of coffee. Remus had enforced a new rule that Sirius was not to be given any further alcohol, at least until after the wedding ceremony.

"The gold is meant to be spent." A few snorts went round the table, all knowing that Sirius's account was more than enough to handle it. Bill too chuckled as he pulled out his wand and pointed it at the table. A rather large stack of receipts appeared before Sirius.

"Even so, I was lucky I remembered I was a wizard with the amount of things they bought." Bill tipped his bottle in salute before downing the rest. Remus was already sliding the second over.

"What did they buy?" Harry asked, still goggling at the pile Sirius was flicking through.

"Seems like it is books mostly, I suspect I will need to expand the shelves in the library"

"Oh, that was handled already. Hermione insisted we stop at Coventry first to unpack all the books and things." Bill grinned again.

"And by things you mean?" Sirius lifted some pink and floral-patterned receipts. Bills grin seemed to widen.

"I'll let my accountant deal with that stress" Sirius dropped the papers and vanished them, "Besides, he could do with some more work."

Remus snorted, "I suspect he may not appreciate the sentiment Padfoot."

/\/\/\/\/\

Hermione wasn't quite ready to face Sirius straight away; nor Remus for that matter. She felt rather guilty for the mess and destruction caused at their wedding; so was grateful to Ginny, Luna and Demelza to act as buffer. They caught her up on the latest gossip at Hogwarts and Hermione went into detail about their trip to France with Bill and Fleur.

"How did you even manage to get through your day with her let alone an entire trip?" Ginny asked with distaste.

"Honestly Ginny, she really isn't that bad, once you get to know her." Hermione replied, as her arm disappeared into her beaded purse.

Ginny scrunched her nose "You sound just like Bill."

Hermione huffed and looked pointedly at the red headed Gryffindor, "Just give her a chance Gin. Besides, she was the one that picked this out for you." Hermione's arm reappeared from the bag, pulling a dress bag. Ginny wasted no time in taking the bag and opening it up. Inside were two pale blue gowns. The blue seemed to change almost to silver depending on the light.

"Bridesmaid's dresses!" She squealed, grabbing one and taking it to the giant mirror to see how it looked. Luna sat on the bed next to the bag tracing the beadwork on the hem.

"Who is the second dress for?"

"Well, I was hoping that you would be, Luna." Hermione held out a slim box to her, a second was in her other hand to Ginny.

"Demelza, I am sorry I didn't realise you would be here too" They watched as Ginny and Luna unwrapped the boxes to reveal two charm bracelets for each of them.

"You weren't to know. Besides it was the only plan we could come up with that could avoid Ginny going home for the holidays." Demelza shrugged.

"What plan was that?" Hermione asked. Demelza didn't answer straight away as Ginny squealed and flung her arms around Hermione.

"Oh, it is gorgeous! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you Hermione!" Ginny's hand was pulled off Hermione by Demelza to better look at the gift.

"Now what is a lightning bolt in the bracelet represent?" she asked looking over each of the charms Hermione had taken great care in choosing for each of them.

"Lightning when struck can be considered quite lucky." Luna said as she looked at her own charms.

"I bet that particular bolt may feel that way too," Demelza sniggered. It seemed to have triggered giggles by all of them except Luna.

"Oh, I got a raddish one. One can't have too many radishes to keep the Nargles away." This only made the giggles continue more.

"So," Hermione asked a little breathless, the first to recover, "What plan did you have to make your parents believe you are not here?"

"Oh yeah." Ginny wiped her eyes and took a breath. "I told them that I was going to stay with Demelza's family so that we can focus on getting our schoolwork done, and to work on our quidditch."

"And I told my parents that I was staying with Ginny's family for the same reasons." Demelza shrugged.

"Aren't you afraid that they will find out?" Hermione asked.

Ginny snorted, "No. Mum doesn't really talk to many people any more. And Dad is too busy to be too concerned. Especially when I got Fred and George to say they would meet me at Kings Cross to make sure."

"Your parents think they are trust worthy?" Hermione raised a brow.

Ginny's smiled slyly, "Of course not. Mum is not stupid. She told Bill to."

"And Luna your Dad is ok with you staying?"

"Yes, Daddy was sad that I won't be home to see him. But as it is my first time to stay with friends not in Hogwarts he didn't want me missing out." Luna tilted her head.

A short knock on the door behind them made all four turn around. Sirius stood at the threshold. Ginny fastest on the uptake grabbed Luna and Demelza's hand.

"How about I give you both the official tour of this place, and maybe the kitchen for some butterbeers." Sirius stepped aside as the girls quickly exited the room before Hermione could say a word. Minutes dragged by, as it seemed both were at a brief loss of words.

"Nothing I should be seeing?" Sirius nodded at the dress bags and shoe boxes.

"What? Oh no. My things are back at Coventry." She smoothed out the dress as she charmed the dress bag back over it, partly for something to do and to avoid looking at Sirius. She didn't realise he had stepped into the room until he spoke.

"Princess, you know that I now owe a galleon to Moony?" Hermione's head snapped around staring at him quizzically.

"When did you manage to turn full Animagus?" He asked, cautiously taking a step forwards. She moved back slightly as she blushed.

"Oh, well. Um, a while now I guess." She hedged. Sirius merely raised a brow and waited until she lowered her gaze.

"I, I thought you'd get mad. About what happened."

"Sweetheart, I was not mad at you. But I said the words and they are no longer welcome within these walls."

Hermione's eyes widened. "I would have explained to you what happened after you left but you seemed to have taken your time in returning."

"You used the banishment spell?" She asked, ignoring the aggravated tone. Sirius noticed, but shrugged.

"It was one Family Hex I thought I would never need to use. Especially when it was tried on me by my dear mother. Trying to kill me instead seemed to have more appeal to that woman."

"I'm sorry Sirius. I really should not have let them get to me like that. I should not have reacted like that."

"You had every right to. They were trying to bait me, and I do not believe they were expecting the reaction it caused. But that is not what I wanted to discuss with you."

He looked pointedly at Hermione, "I want to know when you mastered becoming an Animagus and how in the hell you managed to cast magic in that form?"

"Um, well about that,"

"About what?" Remus asked standing in the doorway. His hands in his pockets leaning against the frame. Hermione's eyes narrowed as she realised both had cut off any possible means of escape from the room.

"I was just asking about when she found the time to master Animagus form and how in said form she could cast a spell that nearly blew the house." Sirius stood with his arms crossed.

"Well I still need to practice the spells. My precision was off." She grumbled.

"What Animagus form did she take?" Remus asked politely. His whole demeanour calm, almost as if he enjoyed watching her squirm under their scrutiny. Her eyes narrowed when she realised that Sirius was smirking and was not going to answer for her. She gave them both a glare that would have equalled Professor McGonagall's before she transformed in front of them.

"Well I guess that means I am a galleon up, if I remember rightly." Remus scratched his chin. His eyes twinkled at the large black panther that sat on its haunches before them. The panther snorted and began to transform back into human form, as Sirius flicked a large gold coin over his shoulder at his friend.

"I knew that you had it in you Hermione. When did you learn how to do it?" Remus asked, pocketing the coin. Both waited patiently, until she finally squirmed and answered softly. "The end of third year."

"THIRD YEAR!" Both wizards exclaimed loudly. Hermione winced as they stared dumbfoundedly at her.

Remus was the first to seemingly recover enough to collect his thoughts to appreciate the feat. He also recalled all too clearly all of the events of that tumultuous year he stepped in for Dumbledore as the Defence Against the Dark Arts Teacher.

"You used the time turner to become Animagus?" he asked as realisation struck. Sirius not far behind in reaching the same conclusion narrowed his eyes, "when?"

For a one worded question it was loaded. Silence again lapsed as the two wizards waited for Hermione, who under normal circumstances would happily discuss her advanced learnings. But as she had seemingly kept it quiet from everyone, the revelation seemed to have the opposite effect.

"During the exams up to saving Sirius. I was so stressed with all the other study I decided to try it out. Most of it I didn't need the time turner. And with the hours and hours of study I turned back in time to keep on top of my work load, it was rather easy to manage the tasks required for the spells to work." She answered, speaking fast to try and avoid further drama.

"And no one knows? Not even Harry? Or Ginny?" Remus asked. She shook her head a dimple appearing on her cheek.

"I am entitled to some secrets Remus."

"Princess, you do realise no one that young should be capable of even managing that kind of magic, let alone at 14." Sirius ran a hand through his hair.

"Well…" Hermione's head tilted to the side as she folded her arms around her as if to protect her from the next bout of hysteria they would have. "By the time I did manage to transform successfully, all the time turning I had done, I was technically over 15 years old."

Remus sputtered.

"Not helping Princess," Sirius's voice sounded rougher than usual. Almost as if he was trying to stop laughing, or yelling. The look on his face was unreadable.

"Please tell me these two are not lecturing you on learning illegal magic when they once did just that?" Tonks said stepping into the room. She promptly tripped on the corner of the rug. Remus's arms were instantly around her to stop her falling.

"Thank you Husband." She pecked him on the cheek and extracted herself from his embrace.

"I have come to collect you and herd you to the fireplace back to your house in Coventry. Fleurs Orders." Tonks grinned, "And the fact the girls are already they're admiring a certain dress."

Sirius raised a brow at Hermione. "I wasn't fully aware that Fleur was organising our wedding." She shrugged.

"How did you not realise? It was why you went to France." Tonks snorted.

"I thought we were visiting her family, which we did. And then we went through almost every bridal store, she insisted we go to in Paris. It wasn't until she stuffed me into a change room with six dresses that I realised we weren't just shopping for her own wedding dress, but also mine." Hermione grumbled.

"Well as she has kindly organised practically everything like an army general, and most likely will hex anyone not following her orders for your big day tomorrow, I need you to come with me now." Tonks pointed her wand at the dresses and shoe boxes and lead the way from the room.

Hermione groaned and moved to follow but an arm snaked around her.

"You aren't too mad at me?" she asked meekly, as her hands pressed against his chest.

"I'm a little miffed you never told me, but I am sure a kiss will make it better." He said huskily.

"Besides, Miss Granger. As of tomorrow, you will be called Mrs Black." Hermione's eyes widened but was unable to protest or comment as his mouth pressed against hers. She leaned into him, snaking her arms around his neck. They pulled apart long enough for Sirius to whisper "I missed you, love".

A loud cough broke them apart. Bill stood in the doorway, holding two large bottles of firewhiskey.

"Hermione, if you value your hearing, better head over to the Townhouse." Bill moved aside as she let go of Sirius moving away. She paused in the doorway and grinned at him.

"I missed you too."