A/N: He's baaaaaack. I struggled with getting this chapter to sound right and I'm still not 100% happy with it, might go back later and change some things.
oOo
"Excellent." McGonagall allowed herself a small smile. "Now, though it pains me to say this, I believe it best if you do not recount anymore to me or anyone. I would like to know everything, all the events that transpired in your time, but Voldemort's followers remain, though the wretched man is gone for now. If it were to reach their ears of a girl-"
"Woman." Hermione interrupted before she realized what she was doing. Her dark face flushed with embarrassment. She wanted to blame the veritaserum, but it had mostly worn off.
"Woman." McGonagall agreed with a nod. "If they were to discover there was a woman with such knowledge as you have, they would stop at nothing to find you and...extract that information from you."
Hermioned bit her lip, knowing exactly what means of extraction Voldemort's followers used. Absentmindedly she rubbed the scar on her forearm, hidden under the sleeve of her jumper, and shoved thoughts of Malfoy Manor from her mind. Instead, Hermione aimed her focus at the present- McGonagall was correct, the fewer people who knew about her the better.
"Now with that being said," The Headmistress continued. "I do think it best if we bring Mister Lupin and Mister Black in for the duration of our conversation. If you would, please retrieve Mister Lupin from the hall while I send a patronus to Mister Black requesting his presence as well."
Hermione twisted her mouth in confusion. "Prof-Headmistress, why do we need Remus and Sirius for the rest of our conversation?"
"In due time, Miss Granger, you''ll know in due time. I'd rather prefer to not have to explain myself twice." McGonagall waved her finger in the air. "But be assured, Mister Lupin and Mister Black are two of the most highly valued and trusted members of the Order of the Black Cat. You can count on their complete discretion."
"I have no doubt of- wait... I'm sorry. Wh-what did you say?" Hermione's eyebrows shot in two completely different directions on her forehead. "The Order of the B-Black...Cat?"
"Oh, yes, I'm sorry." McGonagall apologized. "Mister Lupin had informed me you were asking after the Order, I assumed we must then exist in your time."
"No, no you're correct, the Order does exist. It's just called something ah... umm a little different." Hermione's mind was wading through the implications of this new differently named Order. The Black Cat? Does that mean... "Headmistress, is Albus Dumbledore a member of the Order?"
"Albus?" McGonagall asked skeptically. "Heavens no, child, why would the Minister of Magic be a member of a secret Order?"
"Ahh..." Hermione said slowly. "No reason, no reason at all."
No wonder they'd looked at me like I had a pair of antlers growing out of my arse when I'd asked to see Dumbledore. Not a member of the Order? Curiouser and curiouser.
"I'll go get Remus then." Hermione said, quickly getting from her seat to escape McGonagall's questioning stare.
When she returned to the Headmistress's desk, two extra chairs had been conjured. Hermione and Remus sat down silently, neither quite sure where this was headed, though Hermione had an idea she was prepared to kick down. The curly haired witch twiddled her thumbs in her lap and nervously smoothed nonexistent wrinkles out of her jumper. The urge to grab Remus's hand for reassurance tickled at her fingers, but she pointedly ignored it, repeating "Not your Lupin!" in her head like a mantra.
Hermione's thoughts turned to her year on the run, living with her boys on luck while a war had simmered around them. McGonagall's request was bringing every memory Hermione took such care to compartmentalize to the surface and Hermione's attempts to bat them down were futile at best. She felt as if she were playing mental whack-a-mole. A memory would pop out of the ground of her mind and while Hermione vehemently squashed it with a hammer, two more would pop up near it and as soon as she hit those, more would appear. She felt physically drained and mentally exhausted despite her apparent ten hour nap. Was there such a thing as time travel jet lag?
In between desperate attempts to repress memories of hunting Horcruxes, Hermione found herself hoping Sirius wouldn't burst through the Floo and stupefy her a second time. Despite Remus's passionate reassurance- which was bizarre in and of itself- Hermione couldn't shake the blooming sense of dread encompassing her. She felt dizzy, like she was on the edge of a cliff looking down, one step away from the chaotic free fall of another flashback, like the one that had preluded this insane series of events.
What if Voldemort hadn't even created the Horcruxes this time around? She wondered. Or worse yet, what if they're completely different? Hermione supposed she wasn't starting at square one, but she felt damned near close.
The Headmistress cleared her throat and looked between the witch and wizard seated apprehensively before her. "Really, I don't know why you two look as though I'm about to give you detention."
Remus chuckled uneasily. "It does feel a bit like that I reckon. Seated here quietly, not sure what's to happen next."
Dear Remus, you have no idea.
"Worry not, Mister Lupin, I'll explain everything as soon as-" But McGonagall was unable to complete her sentence as the Floo roared to life, spitting green flames into her office.
Hermione's head whipped around quick enough to give her whiplash as Sirius Black came striding through the fireplace. The wizard was dressed in torn dark jeans, folded once at the bottom over his black boots, and a tight fitting black shirt, with his wand tucked into his back pocket. Hermione had forgotten Muggles of the early 80s wore such tight fitting trousers.
Well, I suppose I should be happy that fashions have remained on the same trajectory...? At least my hair will be in style.
"Mister Black, I assume you're not coming directly from work?" McGonagall asked in controlled shock, her eyebrows high on her forehead.
Sirius flashed her a grin and took the seat next to Remus, giving his friend a familiar pat on the shoulder.
"Nah, just relaxing a bit at home." Sirius threw an arm over the back of his chair and leaned to the side. "So what's the damage, Minerva?"
Remus looked disgustedly at his friend, but Hermione noted he didn't exactly look surprised.
McGonagall turned to Hermione. "I assure you again, Miss Granger, highly valued members." She then turned to the wizards, leveling them with a cool gaze. "I implore you, do not make me regret bringing you two in on this."
"Of course not, Headmistress!" Remus said quickly while Sirius sat grinning. To Hermione's surprise, everything was going so ridiculously that it was actually putting her at ease and, added bonus, no one was trying to hex her.
McGonagall pursed her lips before motioning to Hermione. "Gentlemen, I believe you are already acquainted with Miss Granger."
The wizards nodded and Remus smiled at Hermione cautiously though not unkindly, but Sirius did not cast his grey eyes her way.
"Good, now what I'm certain you are unaware of is that Miss Granger has information, vital information, classified information. And because of this, I have placed her on a mission of the utmost importance." McGonagall stopped for a moment, letting her words sink in. "Miss Granger's mission is dangerous, but necessary and she has graciously agreed to the risks associated with it." -Wait, when did I agree to risks?- "What I am asking of you, gentlemen, is your assistance."
"Headmistress, I do not require any assistance." Hermione stated confidently. "As you said yourself, the less in the know the better."
"Yes I did say that, but Mister Black and Mister Lupin are already more 'in the know' than I would have liked due to the nature of your arrival in our t-lives." McGonagall countered. "But, I think that will work to our benefit. Of all the Order members-"
"You mean, of all the Order members left." Sirius interrupted solemnly.
"Indeed." The older witch grimaced. "Of all the Order members left, you two are my most trusted, most capable allies. I would trust no one else with this."
"Stop buttering us up, Minerva. You're making my stomach fluttery." Sirius wiggled his eyebrows and Remus punched his friend in the arm. "What's the deali-o?"
"Now this is where I must ask- no, demand - your trust." McGonagall placed her fingers in a steeple on her desk and looked between the wizards, ensuring she had their full attention. "This mission will not only require your assistance, but also your ignorance."
The office grew silent, filled with a thick haze of apprehension. Remus and Sirius and even James knew too much and had seen too much already, but Hermione couldn't help but question the wisdom in using their assistance further. They may be ignorant now, but if they worked with her on her hunt, they would not remain so.
Remus looked bewildered between Hermione and McGonagall, but Sirius narrowed his eyes at the old witch.
"Minerva," Sirius was the first to break the silence. "If we aren't to know the details of our assignment...how will we be able to complete the mission?"
"As I said, the mission is Miss Granger's, not yours. You two will be assisting her."
"I see..." Sirius said slowly. "How exactly?"
"That is not for me to decide, I will leave that to Miss Granger's discretion." The Headmistress spoke honestly. "However, it is my personal assignment to you that Miss Granger, for her own safety, must be closely guarded. She will be staying here at Hogwarts and-"
"No." Sirius interrupted McGonagall with a sudden hardness.
"What?" The older witch looked quite taken aback.
"She'll stay at Grimmauld Place." Sirius said matter of factly. "And so will Remus, during our mission."
"Oi, mate. I have a flat, thank you very much." Remus said quickly.
"A poorly warded flat." Sirius remarked.
"Bugger off." Remus muttered.
"Well, it's true." Sirius said to his friend. "Minerva, If this mission is truly as dangerous as you say and Miss Granger is in need of our vigilant guardianship, then I'm going to insist everyone remain at Grimmauld Place." Sirius finished in a tone that brokered no arguments. "We'll be safest there."
"Mister Black, I assure you, the wards at Hogwarts-" McGonagall began.
"Are top notch, really, some of the best in the world I'd say." Sirius interrupted again and Hermione would have laughed at the horrible glare McGonagall was pinning Sirius with if she herself wasn't growing more irritated by the second. What was Sirius on about? "And I don't know if you've noticed this yet, Minerva, but there are students crawling all over this place. If discretion is the name of the game, it will be difficult to stay out of sight with their little eyes everywhere. Plus, Hogwarts is missing one key element of protection."
"Oh, and what's that?" McGonagall scoffed in disbelief.
"Me." Sirius grinned wickedly and Hermione couldn't help herself, she burst out in a very unladylike guffaw. For the first time since he'd entered the office, Sirius turned his grey eyes to the dark witch. "Do you doubt me, Miss Granger?"
"I don't doubt that you think you are the the one thing missing from the brilliant and ancient Hogwarts wards." Hermione remarked. "But whether you truly are, well, that's the bit I'm having a problem with."
"Believe it or not, it's a fact." Sirius dismissed her protests with a wave of his pale hand.
"I think you have a fundamental misunderstanding of the term 'fact'."
"And you and Moony will be staying at my place whether you like it or not."
"Excuse me?" Hermione was wholly unprepared for this Sirius Black, the man's arrogance was completely unrivaled. Even at his worst she was struggling to remember her Sirius being this incorrigible. No one was going to order Hermione Granger around like a daft puppy.
"Oh you're excused." Sirius smiled sweetly and Hermione's face twisted in rage.
This is fucking unbelievable.
"It's a figure of speech, Black." She spat.
"Well then figure out your speech, Miss Granger." He replied innocently.
Hermione turned to McGonagall. "If I stay at Grimmauld Place, I will kill him."
"You already tried, love. But I burst out of your spell unharmed." Sirius folded his arms across his chest triumphantly.
"B-burst!? Burst out of my spell un- by the gods!" Hermione sputtered. "I released you from the stupefy and from what I've read- and trust me when I say I have read like you would not believe- there is no mention of anyone ever being killed by a stupefy. And if you find one, Mister Black, well I'll kiss your bloody boots."
Sirius's lips curled into a sly smile that made Hermione briefly reconsider her words. "That a promise?"
"Its a guarantee."
Remus coughed and nodded towards Hermione's now empty chair. At some point in her rambling she had stood up and with an embarrassed 'hrmph' the witch sat back down, hugging her arms to her chest.
How is he doing this to me? Get ahold of yourself, Granger, you're not a child. It's obviously the time jet lag.
"I think I have to side with Miss Granger on this." Remus began.
"Hermione, Remus, please call me Hermione." She witch offered with a small smile, grateful for Remus's support.
The wizard smiled shyly back at her. "Hermione then, I agree with you. The two of us living with Sirius is not only impractical, it's completely unsafe." The werewolf turned to McGonagall. "I do believe she really will kill him and I'm not wholly convinced I could stop her."
"Now Hermione-" Sirius put up his hands out in a placating gesture.
"Miss Granger to you!" She said, pointing her finger at him.
"But- but you just said-"
"To Remus." Hermione turned her finger to Remus who immediately looked uncomfortably between the fuming witch and the baffled wizard. "Remus is being reasonable."
"I'm being reasonable!" Sirius countered, his voice rising.
"No, Black, I think you're actually being the very definition of unreasonable." Hermione said through clenched teeth.
"Well if I'm being unreasonable, you're being a right bitch." Sirius snarled.
The blood drained from Hermione's body and was replaced with cold, icy fury which she leveled at Sirius Black with a gaze of such burning intensity that the wizard actually scooted his chair an inch away. "Headmistress." Hermione's eyes never left Sirius. "If you would please return my wand to me."
Hermione extended her arm out towards McGonagall and Remus, realizing he was between the fuming witch and her target, scooted his chair back about a foot.
"Miss Granger, I'm not sure that's wise at the moment. I think I've heard quite enough from the two of you." McGonagall pinned Sirius and Hermione with a disappointed stare and Hermione's face grew hot. Slowly she curled her arm back and placed her hands onto her lap. "Mister Black, though I would rather not admit it, you have a point."
"What!" Remus and Hermione exclaimed in tandem.
"I do?" Sirius asked unsure. "I mean, it was a bit harsh, she was being bitchy, but not a right bitch."
"Not about that, Sirius!" McGonagall rolled her eyes.
"Oh...then-oh! The safety part, ah yes, good." Sirius nodded triumphantly.
"Headmistress, what are you saying?" Hermione asked in growing horror. "You couldn't possibly be suggesting..."
"Oh I think she is." Sirius remarked.
"That's enough, Mister Black." McGonagall snapped and then turning to Hermione, continued. "Miss Granger, Mister Black has a point. Hogwarts is expertly warded," McGonagall flashed a stern look at Sirius, "however, at Grimmauld Place you would be under more secluded protection, able to complete your assignments without distractions. And if word of you reaches the wrong ears, I fear Hogwarts would be the first place our enemies would come looking and I cannot in good conscious endanger my students in that way."
Hermione slumped in her chair, defeated. Desperately she pleaded. "But Headmistress, I may need to use the library at Hogwarts."
"Then I will arrange for special Floo permissions with Madame Pince." McGonagall rose from her chair. "Now that the matter of your housing is settled"-is it?!- "I think it best for you to follow Madame Pomfrey's advice and get some rest, settle in a bit at Grimmauld Place. I will make arrangements for funds and come to visit you tomorrow morning."
Oh shite, this is happening. Hermione was grappling for control of the situation, but she had run out of ideas, her brain spent, and lying down was sounding more and more enticing.
"Good idea, Minerva." Sirius grinned. "Let's all go home."
"I'm not staying with you, mate!" Remus insisted again.
"No choice now!" Sirius danced merrily to the fireplace.