CHAPTER 7

Hermione woke up to the sound of someone throwing up. The years in run with her boys had taught her to be cautious of even the faintest sounds. She moved down the doorway to find Lily throwing up. She went quickly to her side and held her hair back.

After a while, she pulled back.

"Thanks Mione." The honesty in those green eyes and the nickname made her remember Harry. "Sorry , It must be a disgusting view to wake up to." She said misreading her expression.

"Oh no. Not at all." She waved her hand at her. "Its just the Nickname. My best friends used to call me that." She gave her a sad smile.

"If it bothers you, I won't..."

"Its fine , Lily. I miss them but it is good to hear something familiar."

The smile on Lily's face was priceless.

"Why don't you go and rest while I make breakfast." She offered.

"Oh no Mione. I can't ask that of you." Lily looked exhausted and Hermione knew in her condition she could do with some extra pampering.

"I won't take no for an answer. I am cooking. I will take care of cleaning. You may come downstairs after breakfast. Not before it." She ordered in her bossy voice that she often used on Harry to complete his essay.

"Thank you." She hugged. "Its so good to have a girl in here. The boys love me. But if I leave it on them , the house will be in pieces."

"You don't have to worry. Just rest."

By the time Hermione was done with the breakfast, three grumpy looking boys made their way to the kitchen.

"Hermione, where is Lily?" Sirius asked looking around.

"She is resting." Hermione said and placed two plates on a tray, "James why don't you and Lily have breakfast in your bed. She will feel good." She told him.

"Mione, you know you are amazing. Lily-flower is always complaining that I do nothing for her any longer." He said transfiguring a broccoli in a bouquet of roses.

"Then I suggest you take her out for dinner."

"An excellent idea." James beamed at her as he leviated the tray upstairs.

She turned her attention towards the two boys infront of her. Sirius was shirtless showing off his muscles and tattoos, typical Sirius Black and she rolled her eyes at him.

"How about a dinner for ourselves, kitten, we can do other things I am good at afterwards ?" He asked with a suggestive smirk.

"Do you want to survive your lunch or not." She asked and taking his shock as a yes she added, "then don't flirt with me or I will poison it."

Remus chuckled at his friends shocked expression who recollected himself and said with a loop sided grin, "Resisting a shirtless Sirius Black, you really are a strange witch."

Hermione didn't bother telling him that she already had her heart on another wizard and this might be an important factor in him having no appeal on her.

It was noon by the time she was done with household chores and decided to take a stroll in the sun.

"Hermione" she turned at the sound of her name. Sirius Black was running behind her to keep up.

"Sirius?" She asked.

"I thought I could walk with you." He asked hesitating and Hermione's expression softened.

"Ofcourse you can."

"You know I can never digest the fact that you might know too much about us." He admitted.

"I know. And I would say it was good to be doubtful in these times if I didn't know you were already trusting a traitor."

"What do you mean? Someone among us is working for Voldemort?" He looked at her in shock.

She nodded solemnly at him.

"Who is the bastard?" He asked angrily.

"All in good time , Sirius. Besides I know this person betrays all of you. I have to figure out if he has already betrayed you or he still have time to be saved. "

"All that knowledge scares me." She shuddered at thought of what Sirius Black would do if he knew what she knew.

"It isn't easy." She admitted. "Though I guess this wasn't what you wanted to talk about when you offered to walk with me. What is it?" She questioned with a raised eyebrow. His expression turned serious and Hermione knew Sirius didn't wish to talk about it but had to , to get it off his chest. She took his hand and pulled him to the ground where she sat down.

"Is everything alright?" She asked when he didn't say anything for a while.

"Who did this to you?" He blurted.

"Did what?" She was bemused at the seriousness on his face.

"That word on your arm."

Oh. It made sense. If Bellatrix had used a cursed knife there were chances that it had belonged in the Black family. And that means Sirius knew it.

"Do you have any idea?" She cocked her head to her side. Instead of looking at her, he looked straight at the tree where the wards ended.

"Two people who could do that."

"It was Bellatrix." She sighed. Some people feared Voldemort , Harry feared Dementors, and before Bellatrix , Hermione could say her greatest fear was failure. But now, she was her worst fear.

"I am sorry." He said in a strained voice. Hermione could see the moisture build in his eyes.

"It isn't your fault."

"She is a part of my family." He told her through clenched teeth. Hermione couldn't help but feel pity for the man sitting beside her. He acted like it didn't matter to him but it did. It hurt him so badly. She scooted closer to him and linked her arm in his as she placed her head on his shoulder.

Sirius looked at the witch beside him. He had expected her to flinch away from him , to fear him but not to comfort him. Just like Remus was feared because of his condition, Sirius had always been feared in the name of his family. He was feared by those who had never been harmed by the Blacks. And here was this witch who had been tortured merciless and yet she wasn't scared.

"You are wrong." She said firmly.

"What?" He asked still confused with her reaction.

"You are wrong Sirius. They are not your family. This is your family." She said with a jerk of her head towards the cottage. "James, Lily, Remus , the baby, they are your family. And don't ever think you are in any way related to that sadistic bitch. You are everything she is not. You are funny, kind, loyal and loving. It may not look like it. I respect you a lot Sirius Black. I respect all of you. I will follow you people blindly to death. And I won't even do that for Dumbledore. So believe me you are an amazing person to have my respect."

Sirius couldn't help but pull the strange witch into his arms. He hugged her tightly. Never before had anyone's words comforted him so much. His friends had told him many times such things but it was Hermione's words that were true. She was the only one to know what they were capable of and still trust him. And he couldn't help but feel pride that this witch who was doubtful of Dumbledore, respected him.

"I can't breathe."

Sirius left out a barked laughter and released her. She gave him a goofy grin before returning to a business like demeanor.

"So since we started discussing all of this , can I tell you something? You will have to keep it a secret."

Sirius was intrigued. He knew that she was filled with mystery and had accepted her only after she had proved that she wouldn't harm his family. She was willing letting himself into a secret and he was more than happy to oblige.

Hermione knew it was the only chance to talk him about it. She had no idea when Regulus died , therefore they will have to discuss him before it was too late.

"I want to meet Regulus." She saw his face turning pale.

"Why?"

"I can't tell you right now. But you can come with me to the meeting if you arrange it." She told him. It was worth a shot. If Regulus was regretting his decision, he would be more than willing to meet Sirius who was only one outside the circle of Voldemort.

She could see the wheels turning inside Sirius' head. After a while, he gave her a smile as he said, "I guess it can be arranged only if you tell me everything."

"Everything on this matter. And I will tell to both of you together."

He agreed.