1The characters and canon situations in the following story belong solely to JK Rowling, Scholastic and WB. I am not making any money from the publishing or writing of this story.

AN: Thank you to all who have read, reviewed, favorited (I'm going to say that's a real word), and/or put on alert. Seriously.. its giving me the warm fuzzies.I actually do read and appreciate all of my reviews, even if I may not respond to them individually.

Also, I do not have a Beta, so any/all errors or inconsistencies are mine alone.

1Chapter Six:

A week later, Hermione was sitting on the couch in the library when she heard the door open. Looking up, she spied Sirius leaning against the jamb, shaking his head.

"You really should not spend so much time holed up in here. Get outside, live a little! It's a beautiful day!"

"Still get tired easily, and it didn't help that the boys kept me up late, so I'm just resting in here," she said with a smile.

"They kept you up? Oh you little vixen!"

"Very funny, Sirius...they were watching movies all night and I didn't have the heart to kick them out," she scoffed.

"Resting, hmm…with twenty books spread around you? Do you never stop?"

"Just studying a little…"

"Ha! Reading all your books before you go back to Hogwarts? I remember that about you…" the Marauder said with a large grin.

"Actually," Hermione began, picking up several books to show Sirius the title, "I've mainly been reading about the veil and theories on alternate dimensions."

Sirius' face fell, and he moved into the room to take a seat across from the young witch. "Hermione…why are you reading about this?"

"Well…to help you, of course! To understand how this happened… to see if there's a way to get you back home…" she drifted off, seeing the Marauder's eyes close and his face crumple. "Sirius? What's wrong? Don't you want to go home?"

"I would love to return to my reality, Bookworm… I really would, but I can't think about returning…"

"Why not?"

"Honey…there's no way to get to the veil without telling the Ministry the truth, and if they knew, who knows what would happen to me... and there's no way of testing anything to see if it would work…not to mention that whoever would do so would put themselves at risk, and I can't allow that. I have accepted that I am stuck here, in this reality. And that's fine. Sure, I miss people and some things, but I still have Harry, and I got you back…and I'm needed here…"

"Weren't you needed there?"

"Yes…but it's the only thing I can think of that makes any kind of sense. Instead of just being stuck in the veil or dead, it sent me here. I can only think that there's a reason for it…what that is, exactly, I don't know."

"So, why were you in the Department of Mysteries anyway? I don't think I've heard you talk about it…or what was going on in your world. What was going on with the war there? Oh, Merlin! Do you think that your coming here will change the outcome there? Do you think Voldemort would win?" Hermione shrieked.

"Calm down, Hermione…shhh," Sirius said, moving to sit next to her. He wrapped an arm around her slim shoulders and rocked her gently. "Well, for starters, I was at the Ministry because we tracked down one of the horcruxes. Mundungus nicked Slytherin's locket whilst he was here during an Order meeting and sold it to Umbridge…"

"He did the same here…Harry, Ron, and I snuck into the Ministry under Polyjuice and got it from her…"

"I heard," Sirius said with a chuckle. "Well.. in my reality, Harry and Ron were staying here instead of being on the run, and it was the three of us who were researching and hunting horcruxes. Before Albus died, he asked that I become the new secret-keeper of HQ, so this place was still protected and being used. I knew something was up with Albus due to that, so when Minerva and I found out about Snape's part in everything, we knew he wouldn't lead anyone here and it was safe to stay. Anyway…as I said, I was at the Ministry trying to get the locket.. I was with Kingsley and Arthur, and we got separated after we ran into some Death Eaters. I chased Rookwood and Yaxley into the Death Chamber. I got Yaxley, and Rookwood sent a Bombarda at me…blast knocked me off my feet and I got caught by the veil. From my point of view, it just spat me back out again, but I didn't see any Death Eaters…in fact, whole place seemed empty, so I went back to HQ."

"And then onto the Shrieking Shack. So..what about the rest? Did they find all the horcruxes? How close were you to a final battle?"

"The locket was the last to be found, aside from Nagini, because Voldy kept her close to him. The one in Harry," Sirius broke off, closing his eyes, "we didn't know about…but I'm sure the Snape there did…and since Minerva knew to trust him, she would have helped when it came to the end. I'll probably never know for certain…but I'm sure that everything would work out…that Harry had enough help at the end and we would win. I have to hold onto that…"

"You know, there are probably some realities where Riddle won…" when she felt Sirius shudder she continued, "or where he never existed at all…or someone else was the Dark Lord…maybe there was a Dark Lady? Maybe it was me," she chuckled. Sirius laughed heartily.

"Oh, that would be grand. The Dark Bookworm! Instead of Crucios, you'd hand out essay assignments as torture!"

Hermione picked up a book and slammed the guffawing Marauder in the stomach. "Not funny, Sirius!"

"Oi! Watch the goods, love!"

"I personally think it would be better if she ensured you were unable to breed…aim a bit lower, Miss Granger," came a silky drawl from the doorway. Hermione turned to look and found a glowering Severus. "Would you two mind keeping it down, or at least cast a silencing charm. I believe you could hear your cackling from Hogwarts."

"We were just talking about Dark Lady Hermione's torture methods…what do you think? Six feet on the uses of flobberworms?"

"I found that quite affective, myself…no, I believe Miss Granger would make everyone knit hats for house elves…"

"Hey!"

"…or comb that orange beast she used to have."

"Speaking of…where is Crooksy? I haven't seen him anywhere!" Sirius asked.

Hermione wilted, "I don't know…I left him with the Weasleys when we went on the run, and no one has seen him in months. I don't know what happened to him…I don't know if he's alright," she said, tears filling her eyes.

"Oh, don't pout, 'Mione…we'll find him. I'm sure he's just poking about somewhere. I'll go with you as Padfoot, and see if I can track him down. I miss the furball too…"

"He always did like you," she said with a small smile.

"Of course he did! Crooksy's got great taste. He is one of the most intelligent and perceptive animals I've ever met!"

Severus rolled his eyes and sat down in an overstuffed chair. For some reason, the dynamic between the Marauder and the know-it-all interested him. Interested… and unsettled him.

"Well, he was my companion these past two years," Sirius continued. "Back in my…my world, after we lost you, I brought him here to live with me," he said, the smile slipping from the Marauder's face.

Hermione grimaced and shook herself. "I still can't get over that…hearing that you're dead somewhere is just… creepy. Almost like someone's walking over your grave…"

"Believe me, I know…" Sirius muttered. Shaking himself as well, Sirius turned to Severus. "So, what brings you here? We haven't seen you in days...something wrong at the school?"

"I have been...busy. And no, construction is nearly complete and everything is well, I just brought Minerva some supply lists and other things to go over as she is currently ensconced in your kitchen instead of the Headmaster's office."

"I still don't know why you didn't keep the job," Sirius said, curiosity plain on his face.

"Teaching dunderheads is bad enough. I did not want to be responsible for the lot of them and the school as well. Minerva is welcome to it."

"Still, you were the first Slytherin Headmaster in years…" Hermione piped in.

"Perhaps I shall take the post again, after Minerva retires, if I do not give up teaching and go into private research. For now, though, I do not care for the duty."

"Understandable…" the witch mused. "Well, if Professor McGonagall is here, I should go say my 'hellos'," Hermione said, standing up. "Anyone want anything from the kitchen?"

The men declined and Hermione went on her way. Severus looked at the books strewn about the coffee table and couch. "Merlin, does that girl never stop?"

"That's what I said," Sirius chuckled. "She should get out more often…get outside…be a youngster for a bit. Go on a date, even! I'm sure there's a bunch of lads waiting in line for that, especially now that she's a 'War Hero'."

"Which is precisely why she should stay well clear of them," Severus muttered.

"Getting protective of our Hermione, now?" Sirius asked with a quirked brow.

"Miss Granger is a bright young witch with many prospects. She should be focusing on that; not on boys who would only be after her fame and getting in her knickers," the Potion Master scoffed.

"I think her knickers will be just fine….hmmmm….'Mione's knickers. Now there's a thought," the Marauder said with a leering grin.

Severus shot a dark glare at his old enemy. "You should stay well clear of her too…"

"Oh, come now, Snape. She's a young woman...of age. She's also bright, intelligent, funny...now that she doesn't have to worry about so much... and damned beautiful! And we are wizards, if you remember, so the age difference is not a problem," Sirius said, waving his hand. "If I were so inclined, it would not a problem for me to pursue her; however, I shall not. I would like to…Merlin knows I would, but I get the strong feeling that she is not for me, sadly," he muttered.

Severus continued to glare, although it turned more thoughtful and calculating.

"No…I'm not going to mess about with her either. I like her too much to have a fling."

"If those are your feelings, perhaps you should stay away from her entirely. Young girls are apt to pick up on any interest, however slight, and form an attachment."

"I don't think that will be a problem with her. Hermione takes my flirting in stride; she knows it's all just a bit of teasing, which is why she gives it right back. Besides, not all girls are apt to pick up on any interest. Look at how Lily was in school. She couldn't stand James for the longest time, even though his panting over her was beyond obvious to everyone else...and she never picked up on how you or I felt about her either…definitely didn't form an 'attachment'."

Severus' face turned black at the mention of his old rival, then he quirked a brow at Sirius' admission. "I never knew you, or this reality's Black to admire Lily..."

"Merlin, that girl drove me barmy for years," the last Marauder said, running his hands through his hair. "She was whip-crack smart, perky, beautiful...well, you remember," he muttered, looking at Severus. "Actually, 'Mione reminds me of her in quite a few ways, except she's far more forgiving than Lily ever was, especially when she got older. Lils changed over the years, and she ended up judgmental and obstinate as all get-out, at times. During their wedding, I hooked up with her maid-of-honor and I left the next morning. It was completely consensual and mutual, but Lils found out about it and railed at me for being a 'scoundrel' and 'breaking the girl's heart'. I wasn't allowed into the house for months after that, and James had to get on his knees and beg for me to be Harry's godfather," he said, shaking his head and chuckling. "Still, even with the stubborn streak of a hippogriff, Lils was entirely too good for the lot of us."

Snape closed his eyes in pained remembrance and nodded his head. "She was indeed..."

"She was also not meant to be ours, you know. She belonged to James. I saw it, even when we were kids. It's why I never went after her...why I did what I could to get between you two. James was the only one who could get Lils to loosen up, laugh, and back down when she got her ire up about something. She was the only one who could get James to be serious or commit to anything. They were the other half of each other, plain as the nose on your face."

If looks could kill, the glare Snape leveled at Sirius would have done the job in a split second.

"Don't look at me like that, you know I speak the truth. You let your hatred of James blind you. Yes, you loved Lily. Yes, she was your only friend for years, but if she were truly your friend in return, a word spoken in the heat of the moment would not have severed your friendship. She was just a girl..full of flaws as we all are, but you've put her on a pedestal. And, if you truly loved her instead of idolized her, then you would have been happy that she was happy. I think your misplaced guilt is keeping all of this going. As I told you before, back at Hogwarts, what happened to her was not your fault. It wasn't anyone's fault except Voldemort's...and it was their destiny, Snape. Harry was prophesied to be the 'Chosen One'; the only wizard who could defeat Riddle...and as much as it hurts me to accept it...because, Merlin knows I loved James and Lily with everything in me... it was destiny for them to meet their end in that house, on that night...so that Harry could live to win." Sirius said, drifting off with tears in his eyes. "Not only do you have to forgive yourself; you have to forgive Lily for being human and for dying and let her go."

Severus sat there, his jaw clenched with the effort of not cursing the Marauder to oblivion. His rage fought years' worth of pain and doubts that were coming to the fore. Finally, the dam broke, and his shoulders heaved with his sobs. Sirius stood and placed a hand on Severus' shoulder, which was shaken off. Undeterred, the Marauder moved his hand back and tightened his grip. "There is nothing wrong with receiving comfort, Severus, especially from someone who may be a friend," he said softly. The former spy's frame was wracked with the force of his grief, and Sirius wrapped an arm around his former enemy's shoulder and held him in silence; his own tears cascading down his cheeks.

After long moments, Severus' tears subsided. In a choked voice, he rasped, "She really did not care about me, did she?"

"For years, I believe she truly did, but she changed as she grew up. It happens."

Snape hung his head, his hair covering his face as he sat in silence and got his breathing back under control. Sirius got up and generously filled two tumblers with firewhisky. He set one glass on the table in front of Severus, and sipped his own. Severus finally lifted his head and picked up the glass, darting his eyes over to his former tormentor and noticed that Sirius' expression was as drained and haunted as he imagined his own to be, with cheeks red from wiping tears away.

"I never thought that I would ever be sitting here with you, of all people, blubbering away like some child. 'Snivellus', indeed," he said with a sneer.

"Of course not...I've been dead," Sirius snorted. Severus shook his head and chuckled, causing the other man to laugh.

"Oh, what a maudlin pair we make, Snape," the Marauder said, knocking back his drink. "We should up to Hermione's room and watch one of those weepy movies that girls seem to love!"

"Potter and Weasley seem to be rather fond of them, as well...which does bring up some interesting questions."

Sirius' firewhiskey nearly shot out his nose. "Sweet Circe! That's...no... ugh!" he sputtered, causing Severus to chuckle harder.

The slight smile slid off of the Potion Master's face and his gaze fell to the tumbler in his hands. "Black, I...thank you. For...well..."

"It is nothing, Severus. I am your friend, or would like to be. In my reality, we got past a lot of our childhood baggage out of necessity and we got to know each other fairly well during Order business until you had to carry out Albus' plan. Over the years, I've finally realized that you are a loyal and brave man, and I am honored to know you. And despite what I thought when we were stupid kids, I now know you to be a good man, as well. Besides...we've both lost and sacrificed so much over all these years...its good to gain something, even if it is a greasy git as a friend, rather than lose something," Sirius said, his lips quirking.

Severus rolled his eyes and drained his glass. "Arsehole," he said, his own lips tilting up.

"I second that... you want another?"

"I would not mind that in the least."

"Very good, old man," Sirius said, pouring two more generous amounts of firewhiskey. "Here's to… here's to 'Mione's knickers!"

Severus nearly choked on his drink and glared up at the Marauder. "No knickers? Yes, I prefer no knickers myself…very well, here's to hoping that Harry and Ron aren't poofs! Not that I'm against that, but bloody hell they'd have ugly children together!"

Severus tried. He tried so hard to keep it in, but in the end, he failed completely. Severus' rich laughter boomed throughout the room and down the hall.