"Welcome to Potter Manor Ms. Granger."

3.

Shite.

This was not a part of the plan. Sure Hermione expected to meet the Marauders eventually, the whole reason to introduce herself to Dumbledore is to get into Hogwarts in the first place. This all seemed a little too soon though. Hermione just was not ready for this. Everyone living in this home was a ghost for her. Even having only met Sirius she knew who everyone else was. These people are the very reason Hermione came back. She had to get Harry his family back and save Remus and Sirius from those 12 years of hell. Remus even more if she was honest with herself. He was the only Marauder standing where she's from. The empty look in his eyes was one of the saddest things she's ever had to look at. She almost couldn't make eye contact with him during conversations by time she came back. Hermione was determined to change that.

Maybe they wouldn't even be home. It could just be the elder Potters. If ever there was a time for luck to be on her side it was now. She wasn't entirely sure what she would do if she had to face a Harry look alike.

Taking a deep breath and looking to Dumbledore out the side of her eye she tried to sound as aloof as possible, "after you sir, I'm afraid I would be an unknown face in this time of trouble."

Professor Dumbledore led the way up the gravel walk and gently let the large bronze lion head knocker fall against the dark wooden door. Trying not to fidget in impatience Hermione started to look at the grounds to her back. They were as expansive as the Manor appeared to be. Lush green grass with patches of chamomile spread as far as her eyes could see. When the breeze shifted in her direction it brought the scent of soothing chamomile with it. This would be the perfect lawn to stretch a blanket onto and read until the sun sunk too low to make out the text.

Hearing the door open and expecting a house elf Hermione turned to come face to crotch with black distressed denim. Slowly moving her eyes up the form she felt her heart rate slow as her heart sunk to her stomach. Between the denims and the bright pink Sex Pistols t-shirt she already knew the face she would come to meet in the end. However she could never prepare herself for what was before her. Sirius Black was devastation given form. No one had a right to be that beautiful. Without war, loss, and Askaban to grace his features he looked like a completely different man and let's be honest, he was nothing to laugh at after all three came into his life.

A smirk came to his mouth as a single eyebrow raised in question. He was clearly used to the dumbstruck look and once over from witches. Hermione couldn't hold back her eye roll or irritation upon realising he thought she was struck silent from his looks and not because he was a ghost given life. Even if it was a beautiful life that wasn't entirely the point.

Opening her mouth without thinking only one sentence came to mind, "The only roads are cul-de-sacs."

Feeling her face heat upon realisation of her words Hermione had to break eye contact. She turned to look expectantly at Dumbledore and raised her brow as if in question. The professor cleared his throat while staring at Sirius. "Right then Mr. Black, Fleamont and Euphemia are expecting me and my guest."

"Uh, yeah okay, they're in Fleamonts study. They said to send you back. You know where it is Professor." Sirius was still looking at her completely baffled. She supposed it wouldn't make any sense to him at all what she had just said. He probably didn't even know what a cul-de-sac was. The thought made Hermione giggle before she could completely control it. The sound seemed to pull Sirius back to himself as his smirk came back.

With another eye roll at his expense Hermione moved forward to follow Dumbledore into the entry. Looking over her shoulder at Sirius one more time before they disappeared into the house. "Thanks Sirius!" Hermione froze for half a second after becoming aware of what she said. He never introduced himself to her and Dumbledore had only called him Mr. Black. If things kept going this way she would have to avoid him forever.

As she forced herself to keep walking behind the Professor she missed the calculating look on Sirius' face and his whispered "Anytime."

Dumbledore led her down a long well lit hallway to a light oak door on the far left. As soon as he reached the door it opened on its own to admit them into a circular room with a large desk in the center and four plush armchairs facing each other. Two people who Hermione assumed to be Mr. and Mrs. Potter stood upon their entrance to the room.

As they retook their seats Hermione started to panic. "Sir I thought we would be meeting alone. I was sure I conveyed the need for secrecy where my situation is concerned in my letter quite adamantly."

The infuriating twinkle was back in the man's eyes as he stared her down. "I'm afraid Miss Granger that given the times I am not inclined to take demands from strangers. We will either discuss what you wish in the company of my choosing or not at all. While I find myself curious I am sure I can find a distraction if you wish to leave."

"Very well then sir," she managed to bite out through her teeth," as you wish. I will just be blunt then shall I. My name is Hermione Granger, I am a muggle born witch born to Oliver and Jean Granger on September 19, 1979. I should be starting my seventh year of Hogwarts and would like to see that through despite my current circumstances."

Hermione would have given the contents of her new Gringotts vault for a picture of the room by time her statement came to a close. She might have been slightly petty in her delivery but it was worth it. Never had she seen such a look on Dumbledore's face.