A content smile spread across Hermione Granger's face as she looked across the dimly lit room. The sleeping child, nestled in her arms, breathing softly and the arm of her best friend Harry Potter slung across her shoulder, as they listened to Remus and Sirius telling tales of their time at Hogwarts.

Sirius had just finished telling one of his famous anecdotes and Remus was clutching his sides as peals of laughter ricocheted off of his shaking body. Harry's deep chuckle rumbled beside her and Hermione herself couldn't stop herself from laughing. Teddy's small hand suddenly clutched at her hair and she cooed softly as she looked into his innocent face. Their laughter died down as Remus saw Hermione comforting his son.
He had found it unbearable to continue living in the house he had shared with his late wife, Nymphadora Tonks, and had been immensely grateful when Sirius offered him refuge in Grimmauld Place. Teddy was a bonus, in Sirius' eyes. He loved his nephew, well not his actual nephew, more than he had thought himself capable of, and experienced indescribable joy when he got the opportunity to look after him. Hermione and Harry had moved in not soon after. The war had just ended and suddenly they had found themselves homeless. They hadn't had time to think about their future, nor had they dared planning one, seeing as they didn't even know if they would survive the night. Ron and Hermione's relationship had dwindled as soon as it started, but they had stayed close friends as Ron left for Romania to join his brother Charlie in handling wild dragons.
Their current situation suited everyone perfectly. Remus amongst friends found it easier to handle his grief. Sirius had never enjoyed being alone and loved the company of his friends and godson. Whilst Hermione found the peaceful house extremely beneficial to unwinding after a hard day at work. She had chosen the career of an Auror and even though she had never seen herself pursuing this path, she found herself enjoying it immensely. Obviously, Harry had chosen the same career and the two of them found it comforting to be working side by side.
Remus leaned over the table as he poured Hermione another drink of butterbeer, and squeezed her arm gratefully as she cradled Teddy back to sleep. Hermione had wholeheartedly accepted the role as godmother to Teddy and Remus admired her greatly for it.
"Thank you, Hermione. I'll tuck him in later on." Remus murmured as he sat down again.
Hermione winked at him and smiled slightly.
"You'd make a great mother, 'Mione," Sirius commented as he watched her stroking the child's head.
Hermione blushed, secretly pleased that he had noticed her motherly instincts. In fact, Hermione was noticing the growing want in her body. She wanted to have her own child, to care for her own baby. She loved Teddy just as much as she would love her biological child, but, it wasn't quite enough. She wanted more.
Shaking her head slightly, to rid herself of such thoughts, she looked up at Sirius and nodded gratefully. A warm hand squeezed her shoulder and she turned to look at Harry as he stood.
"I'm knackered. I'm going to head off to bed." He said warmly, his eyes heavy with sleep.
Sirius walked up to him and wrapped his arms around his godson.
"Night, Harry." He exclaimed, his tone friendly, yet a little too loud. Hermione suspected that the three shots of firewhisky he had downed, were to blame. Remus tugged at Sirius' arm and pulled him back down, grinning apologetically at Harry, who looked like he was about to tip over from exhaustion.
"Goodnight, Harry." Hermione murmured, as she continued to soothe Teddy.
As they heard Harry trudge up the stairs, Sirius beamed at Hermione.
"So how long have the two of you been shagging?" He asked, quite matter of factly.
Hermione blanched, then her face flooded with colour. With an offended glare, she stared at him.
"What?" She exclaimed.
Remus frowned at Sirius and settled a hand on his shoulder as if trying to reign him in.
"Well, it's pretty obvious, 'Mione." He continued.
"Sirius..." Remus warned, his voice stern.
Sirius chuckled and shrugged innocently. Hermione cleared her throat and straightened her blouse as she thought of something to say. Teddy snuffled slightly, and she tried in vain to steady her heartbeat, as not to distress the child any further.
"As a matter of fact, Harry and I have never 'shagged' before and the fact that you would claim such a thing is inexcusable to me. Therefore, I'm going to head upstairs." She huffed, pushing her chair back, but being careful as not to let it make too much noise. She wrapped her arms protectively around her cub and walked defiantly into the hallway.
"Jesus, Hermione, I'm sorry. I just assumed..." She heard Sirius call from the kitchen. She wasn't really angry, just a little miffed. She respected Sirius and the fact that he thought she would 'shag' anyone made her blush with indignance. She hoped Sirius would pick his words a little more carefully after tonight. Yet, she couldn't help the small smile that tugged at her lips. Had she detected a hint of jealousy in Sirius' voice?
Footsteps echoed behind her and she whipped around to see Remus coming towards her. He looked embarrassed as he held his arms out. She stepped towards him and hugged him awkwardly, after all, a baby was sleeping in her arms. Remus cleared his throat and pulled away.
"I actually, erm, wanted to take Teddy from you. You look tired and you need a rest from looking after him." Remus stammered as she flushed with shame. She had misunderstood his advance. Her gaze fixated on the floor, she handed Teddy to Remus, placing a quick kiss onto his tiny forehead.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean-"
Remus chuckled heartily and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Hermione, I was joking. I'm sorry, I realise now it might not have been funny." He said, rubbing his neck anxiously as he withdrew his hand. Hermione grinned sheepishly and shifted her weight from one foot to the other.
"I'm sorry about Sirius, he's had a little too much to drink."
"No, it's fine. I overreacted a little." She answered shyly. Her gaze drifted over to Teddy's sleeping face. He was adorable and she took hold of his little clenched fist.
"He's beautiful, isn't he?" Remus murmured as he noticed her looking at his son. She nodded, then smiled at him sadly.
"He has his father's eyes." She whispered.
"And his mother's smile." He replied softly.
Hermione swallowed, then nodded.
"Night, Remus."
"Goodnight, Hermione."

A crash echoed from the kitchen and Hermione sat up. She desperately tried to hold onto the dream she'd been having, but it slipped away from her as she climbed out of her sheets. Another bang erupted from the dining area and she hurried to the stairs, unsure if she should be worried or not. Harry and Remus didn't stir as she raced across the landing. Even Teddy stayed silent as she hurtled down the steps. Another thud as she reached the door to the kitchen. She wrenched it open her wand in hand, ready to hex the person who had dared enter the house of Black. She froze. Sirius? At this time of night? She lowered her wand as he turned around. His already wild hair had seemed to double in its unruliness and his eyes were red and his cheeks wet with tears.
She was taken aback. Never before had she seen this man cry and never before had she been so afraid of him. She remembered that time in the shrieking shack. She hadn't been scared then, because some gut instinct had told her that she was safe. But now. With his crazed appearance staring back at her, she unconsciously took a step back.
"Sirius?" She whispered. Broken shards of glass littered the kitchen floor. The room in which they had just spent a magical evening, had been wrecked. She noticed blood dripping from his hands and the small glass shards that had pierced his rough skin.
"Oh my god, Sirius!" She cried, her body beginning to tremble.
"Yes, Hermione? What is it you wish to tell me?" He asked, his gaze intense and laced with fury. She paused, unsure of what to do next. Maybe she should alert Remus. He knew how to handle Sirius better than anyone else. It was then that she saw a crumpled piece of parchment laying on the kitchen table. She suspected that this was the cause of his fury.
"Why- what hap- dear God, Sirius." She stammered.
He exhaled loudly, then without giving her another glance pushed past her and stalked to his room, slamming the door loudly.
She heard a cry from upstairs and cursed Sirius for waking Teddy. Her legs were unsteady as she moved towards the table. With shaking hands, she straightened the parchment and tried to decipher the words, tearstains and splotches of blood making it increasingly difficult. When she had finished, she slumped into the chair behind her, silent sobs wracking her body. She snaked her arms around her shoulders and pulled her knees up to her chin. Trying so hard to keep her body from falling apart.
Her best friend, Ron Weasley was dead.