Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or anything of J K Rowling. The plots however are all mine. X X X

Sirius sat on the couch and stared into the flames of the fireplace. The fire mirrored his emotions. He was ablaze with a fury and a pain that burned and ignited with every breath he took. He looked down at his sleeping Wife. His wife who could not even remember how special their life together had been. Who wanted so much to throw away all her memories in order to forget that horrific night. Who thought her life was over and wished it to be so. He held her so close, as his fears began to break from the place he had locked them away. In Hermione's presence he had to be strong, but now as she slept his heart broke. How could someone want to break someone so sweet, so forgiving, so dear to him. He sobbed over her sleeping form, brushing her hair from her face.

Harry stood in the doorway to the library and watched the broken couple. He didn't know exactly what had happened to his dear friend, from the way everyone was acting and the scene in front of him, he wasn't sure he wanted to know. All he wanted to know is who was involved. Clearing his throat to catch Sirius' attention, he entered the library.

"Sirius, she'll get past this. She's strong, but she needs you to be stronger for her." Harry said as she walked round the back of the couch and rested a hand on his Godfathers shoulder. He looked down at the slumbering form of Hermione and smiled sadly, she looked so peaceful asleep there, her head resting on Sirius lap. "Come on we'll take her up to your room and then I'll get you a strong drink."

Sirius nodded and moved gently, lifting Hermione's head of his lap and placing it gently on the couch. Then bending down, he placed one arm under her legs and supported her head with his other arm. Moving slowly her exited the library and carried her up the three flights of stairs to the master bedroom. Their bedroom, the one they had shared as husband and wife. Had shared, now Sirius slept across the hall, close enough to be with her, when she needed him and enough space for her to begin the process of healing. It killed him that when he touched her, tried to hold her, love her, she flinched. Be it involuntary most of the time, but for that second when the blind panic and hurt flashed through her golden orbs, his walls crashed and he was once again left cold angry and heart broken. Harry held the door to the bedroom open for Sirius, he then walked over to the bed and pulled back the covers. Sirius laid Hermione down gently. Harry then took his leave to make them a strong night cap.

Sirius walked over to the dresser and opened a draw, collecting Hermione's favourite and most comfortable pyjamas, he walked back over to the bed. Lifting her feet of the mattress, he softly removed her shoes one by one. He then began to gently tug of her linen trousers and blouse. Sitting her up he pulled her pyjamas down over her head. As he rested her head back down onto the pillows, her eyes opened sleepily.

"Sirius?" she asked, trying to sit up. He shushed her and kissed her on her forehead.

"Everything's alright love, just go back to sleep. I'll be across the hall." She sighed and turned over onto her side, her arms and legs coming to rest on his side of the bed. Closing the door silently Sirius left.

Crossing the hall he entered his room. Harry was sitting on the floor in front of the fireplace. A bottle of fire whiskey and two glasses lay next to him. Sitting down, Sirius poured himself a glass. Sighing heavily he drank from the glass until it was empty, and began pouring another.

"Sirius, is that such a great idea?" Harry asked, concern filling his voice. When Sirius had returned from the veil, by means only known to him and his sleeping wife. He had struggled to recommit to society, often found alone in Buckbeak's old room, heavily drunk and brooding. His temper was always sour and black. Hermione had been his only ray of light, as she brought him out of his depression, slowly and ruthlessly, patiently and aggressively. There were many times when the two's tempers had clashed and the occupants of Grimmauld Place had retreated to their rooms, so as to not be caught in the middle of the warring friends. But their friendship soon turned into a mutual understanding, which had blossomed and as time past the understanding began to transform into deeper and more intimate feelings. Sirius had cut down on his drinking ever since, drinking only to celebrate, to relax, never to brood.

"I know Harry, but I don't know what else to do. I cant seem to break through to her, its like she's lost to me." Sirius hung his head to hide the glistening tears that had begun to shed. "I'm so torn, I want to go out and hunt down every bastard that played a part in her attack, but I know that she wouldn't want that. Her and her blasted ability to forgive everyone and everything. I want to comfort her, but she's scared shitless of me and every other male under this roof. I mean me? I'm her husband, through the good and bad, you know? But when she flinches and that panic flashes across her face, I cant help but feel hurt, even betrayed. How sick is that, here she is struggling but still able to continue, barely but continuing in the least, and I'm feeling betrayed. Upset that she could even connect me to those sadistic bastards." Sirius shook his head and breathed heavily.

"Yes that is rather selfish Sirius, but your only human. However you need to overcome these feelings. Not just for Hermione's sake but also your own. All I can say to you is, did Hermione give up on you? When you shouted, pushed, shoved her away? No, and the man I know as my Godfather wouldn't give up on his wife either. Stick with her, she's fragile right now and she needs the love of her husband and family. As I am both of your family I will support you both, but Sirius don't let your fear of rejection get in the way. Don't let her push you away. She's in shock still and our Hermione has broken away and hidden herself inside. She just needs some gentle guidance and support." With that he turned back to his fire whiskey and stared into the fire, with nothing more to say on the matter. Sirius however had a lot of thinking to do, walking back across the hall, he hesitated before walking into the master bedroom and as he did each night took his seat next to his wife, his life, his broken angel. It was decided he would bring her out from within and fix her piece by piece.