THE VEIL

Chapter 9

3rd November 1977 - Unexpected and Welcome

Sirius was sprawled on his back, asleep in his four poster bed, arms and legs sticking out of the covers too warm under them; though it was sleeting out the windows near his bed. Not that he knew as he had the curtains pulled tight around his bed spelled to stop certain roommates from pranking him in the middle of the night, which was known to happen, frequently.

A soft whispering wind tickled across his face and through the bare skin uncovered by the covers sending goose bumps across his skin. Shivering slightly he shifted slightly a soft snore coming out of him. The whispering grew louder suddenly and Sirius came awake as the wind suddenly blew the curtains above his bed, and something materialised above him falling on top of him. The wind knocked out of him he heard a squeak and a groan from what landed on top of him. Scrabbling for his wand he gasped "Lumos" and a soft light illuminated the form of a familiar curly haired brown eyed witch.

Hermione looked up into a pair of familiar grey eyes, which were looking at her in amusedly.
"Well they do say if you wish it often enough your birthday wishes eventually come true." Hermione blushed deeply realising that she was now lying on top of the heartbreakingly good looking Sirius Black, seemingly was not wearing very much under the covers. Even in his sleepy state he looked amazing. His hair sleep tussled framing his face where his long charcoal eyelashes hooded sleepily over storm-grey eyes. His chest was broad and well muscled under her hands.

Before she could say a word, Sirius had rolled them over causing her to squeak at the sudden movement. Her heart beat hard in her chest. Dropping his wand back onto the bed he ran a finger down her cheek, leaning in almost touching her lips.
"Please stay with me tonight Princess" He whispered to her lips his breath caressing her softly, which was sending sparks through her body. She tried to make words but it seemed that her brain had disconnected the part where words could be formed. Sirius smiled devilishly, which caused her breath to hitch, her heart skipping a beat.

"I'll take that as a yes then", closing the gap their lips met in a scorching kiss. Her brain now well and truly scrambled only could pull one cohesive thought that he was an amazing kisser. That thought was banished as Sirius deepened the kiss causing her to gasp not knowing what way was up anymore. Neither of them were aware of the three teens that had vanished the curtains around them standing in surprise at the scene. James recovered first turning to the other two, "OK, who got Sirius a girl for his birthday and why didn't I get one for mine?"

Sirius breaking away from Hermione, who lay dazed in his arms, replied "We tried mate. Evans wasn't keen to be seen kissing me for your birthday. Now gentlemen if you please, I require some privacy."
Sirius picked up his wand and unvarnished the curtains blocking their amused looks. Turning back to Hermione, who had recovered some of her senses, wound her arms around him and smiled "Happy Birthday Sirius" leaning in to another scorching kiss. Outside of the curtains James ran a hand through his hair, "That has got to be the first time ever he actually wants privacy" he stated.

Remus snorted "More like the first time he didn't even demand his presents."
"Well, I don't think there is much that could beat having a girl waking you up as a birthday present" Peter stated.
James and Remus laughed "Pete, Every man dreams that. And it had to be him to actually get it." James grumbled.

The door of their dormitory opened and Lily and Marlene entered with two big boxes.
"Morning boys, Where is Sirius?" Lily asked looking around "I thought he'd be knee deep in gift wrap by now."
Remus pointed to the bed with the curtains drawn.
"Apparently his dream woman appeared and is probably unwrapping that gift right now. We didn't want to interrupt."
Marlene looked at Remus eyes wide "You mean the Mysterious H that sends him a card every birthday and Christmas?"
Remus nodded, "Seems to be, lucky bastard." he said scratching his head.

"What do you mean" Lily asked putting the presents on Peter's bed and moving to sit on James's bed, snuggling in next to him.
"Well," James said, absently combing a hand through his hair, "we have been up for an hour trying to open his curtains. Seems he didn't trust the wake up we had planned, or the time of it."
"It took you an hour to get his curtains open?" Marlene asked, "Why didn't you just vanish them?"
"We did. After an hour of struggling to get to that solution" Remus answered, leaning on the post of his bed. The girls burst out laughing.

Lily the first to recover looked back over to the bed. "I think that we should actually get him out of bed" She looked at James, "How were you planning to wake him up?"
A mischievous smile appeared on his face and nodded to Remus and Peter,
"Like this."
With their wands out they vanished the curtains and shot icy water from their wands on the unfortunate pair. Both yelped at the sudden icy wetness soaking both of them to the bone.

"What the hell Prongs?" Sirius glared at his friend, who was trying to wipe tears of laughter from his eyes.
"Wasn't just me, Moony as well" Sirius whipped his head around sending water drops spraying in the air "Moony! How could you?" hurt written all over his features.
Hermione pushed Sirius off her got up wand drawn and eyes flashing dangerously retaliated; soaking James. She then pointed behind her without looking dousing Remus as well. Sirius beat her to Peter his own wand out now.
Marlene and Lily on the other side of the room lay on the bed together laughing hysterically. They didn't notice Sirius climb out of his soaked bed, boxers clinging to his legs stalk over to the bed. "Well it seems only fair," dousing the girls who now shrieked Scrambling off the bed away from the water.

All of them now stood with wands drawn, each as wet as the other watching each other warily. There was a pause before someone sent a jet at Remus, which then started a water fight that lasted until Professor McGonagall burst through the door to be blasted with a jet of water in the face. The laughter died immediately in the room as the seven teens stood dripping wet clothes clinging to their bodies, the whole room now flooded with water, rivulets ran down the staircase.

"Miss Evans, would you care to explain the reason why yourself and your classmates have decided to have a water fight, flooding this and two other dorm rooms?" Professor McGonagall asked with a calmness of one who had gone past anger. Lily suddenly found herself tongue tied, unable to look her head of house in the eye, she shook her head.

James stepped forward "Professor, I think we can all agree that any explanation we give you won't change the outcome of punishment we are all about to receive." He answered solemnly. Sirius moving next to his best friend added, "However, before we do have a lecture regarding inappropriate places for water fights, punishment deservedly dished out, would you kindly allow us to find some dry articles of clothing before we begin to freeze?"

Minerva looked him up and down and then at the rest of them, "Mr Black, that certainly seems like a reasonable request." Her cheeks had slightly coloured at how little Sirius was actually wearing, as well as dripping wet from head to toe. "My office. Ten Minutes. No Exceptions." Minerva shot them a final look then turned and disappeared back down the staircase. Marlene huffed and grabbed Lily's arm pulling her out of the room, to go change.

"I do believe that Minnie actually blushed at the state of your dress, or rather your undress Padfoot" James said turning to his friend smirking.
"Prongs, seems like not even Minnie can resist looking at such a fine physique as this." Sirius responded, waving his hand down toward himself. Behind him Peter made retching noises. Remus shook his head chuckling and began to siphon as much water from his clothes and bedding as quickly as possible to dry himself off.

Hermione pointed her wand at herself and spell dried her hair and clothes. She didn't have any shoes as they were left behind in 1976. The bag she had was left in the Shrieking Shack in 1975. She watched as Sirius and the others dried off and in Sirius's case actually find some clothes to wear. She was finding it slightly distracting as he strutted around the room grabbing clothing. When he turned and winked at her she realised it was on purpose. She turned away and made for the door. Stopping as James stepped in front of her holding the very bag she left behind. "I figured you might need this at some point." He said handing to her. She opened it and found her Boots and socks as well as the uniform she had on previously.
"Thanks James!" clutching it to her chest as if it was a lifeline.

She ducked into the bathroom and changed into the uniform. The boys were all dressed, when Hermione emerged. Grabbing their schoolbags they headed out to the common room and through the portrait. Hermione, followed with growing apprehension. She had no clue what to say to explain her, albeit temporary presence to the past version of her head of house. Sirius slipped his hand into hers as they walked looking sideways at her with concern. They knew Professor McGonagall had seen her, twice now and the woman had an impeccable memory.

Hermione had been on the receiving end of some lectures with Ron and Harry, however when both Head boy James Potter and Head Girl Lily Evans as well as both Gryffindor Prefects, Remus Lupin and Marlene McKinnon were caught, "Flagrantly breaking school rules with no disregard to school property or the property of fellow students!" Professor McGonagall fumed, and proceeded to lecture them all for a further fifteen minutes.

"You will serve detention in the form of assisting Professor Sprout in excavating the site for a new Greenhouse, without magic, as well as writing an essay on the origins and the proper uses of the Aguamenti Spell to be handed to me on Monday. Is that clear?"
All of them answered quietly "Yes Professor," Professor McGonagall nodded. "You are dismissed." She motioned them to leave. "Except for you and your friend, Mr Black."
"Ah it was almost too good to be true" Sirius sighed as the rest of his friends made their way back to the common room to clean up and get ready for class. Professor McGonagall came around the desk and indicated for them to follow. Hermione's sinking feeling dropped further as she had a good idea on where they were going. They reached the Gargoyles, the entrance to Professor Dumbledore's study. The Professor giving the password, "Fairy Floss" the gargoyles leapt aside. She turned to them, "Professor Dumbledore has requested to see you both." She indicated them to head up the rotating staircase. As they stepped onto it, Professor McGonagall called,"Oh and Mr Black. Happy Birthday."

Hermione felt like she was walking to an impending doom, squeezed Sirius's hand tightly. Sirius looked down at her smiling encouragingly. Hermione couldn't return it. She felt sick in the stomach. From everyone that she had met, stumbled across, interacted with were but leaves in the wind. Professor Dumbledore however, was seemingly the tree in the wind in which the leaves danced, knowing their history and stood firm in the winds of time.

Sirius knocked on the door. Hermione stood trembling, waiting. A muffled "enter" came from within. Sirius opened the door and led them into the Headmaster's office. Hermione had only been in the office once before, yet it looked exactly the same as she remembered it from her past. Professor Dumbledore sat in a high winged chair behind a large desk watching them as they approached.

"Please be seated." He said kindly, indicating to the two chairs opposite.
Hermione sat, unable to look up at the Headmaster. There was a long pause before Professor Dumbledore began to speak.
"Two years ago, Professor McGonagall told me a very curious thing. There was a student walking the halls that she did not know. Unfortunately due to a certain prank, she was unable to track them down." Professor Dumbledore paused again, Hermione kept her eyes in her hands. Her mind still trying to logically answer the inevitable question he would ask.
"This morning she sent me a note, stating that the mystery student, was in the Gryffindor Tower, participating in a water fight." He continued amusement in his eyes he looked at Sirius. Sirius smirked shamelessly.

"If you would be so kind my dear, would you please care to provide some details on how you came to be here?"

Hermione drew a breath and finally looked up at the Professor, "It is rather complicated sir." Her hands twisted in her lap.
Professor Dumbledore smiled warmly at her, "It is usually best if one would start at the beginning."

To both Sirius and Professor Dumbledore's surprise Hermione burst out laughing hysterically. There was no beginning in this situation she was in. And for all she could see there was also no end to it either. Her laughter turned to sobs as she thought, what could she say? How could she convey her situation without accidentally dropping a piece of information that would change history?

Professor Dumbledore created a handkerchief for her and waited for her to calm herself down. Sirius sat frowning, he had some idea on his mysterious witch that came and went in his life. He, Remus, and James had discussed it at length after the last time she was wrenched away, leaving him devastated following straight after what his mother had done to him. When she did appear, she walked and talked with them as though she knew them well and not at all. He had seen such sadness in her eyes when she looked upon him that he could almost feel the pull of time that brought them together.

Hermione had regained her composure, she began, "There is no beginning for this that I can safely begin to explain sir. Somebody very wise once told me 'Mysterious thing, Time. Powerful, and when meddled with, dangerous.'" She quoted.
Professor Dumbledore looked over his half-moon glasses at her his gaze penetrating, "That is very astute. May I ask whom it was who told you such a warning?"

Hermione looked up at him, a small smile tugging her lips, "You did sir."
Professor Dumbledore smiled enigmatically. "I believe I am beginning to understand my dear. May I ask when you came from?"
Her smile fell from her face. Her forehead creased in a frown as she looked at all the angles in which it could be potentially dangerous, anything that she said was dangerous. She drew another breath, "1996."

Sirius's lungs expelled the air, like he was punched. She was from twenty years in his future. He didn't even know that was possible to go that far back. He looked over to the witch, thinking on conversations that he had with her. Her hesitancy. He looked up at the headmaster. Professor Dumbledore's hands were pressed together in front of him deep in thought.
"Interesting." He spoke finally, "I have one more question," he paused; "Well two actually. What is your name my dear?"
"Hermione, Sir. My Name is Hermione Granger." She looked up at him, eyebrow raised, asked tremulously, "And, your second question sir?"

Professor Dumbledore was silent for a minute before finally asking, "How?"
Sirius turned watching her. He had wanted to know how for such a long time. He had postulated many theories with James, the only one that knew the whole story. Hermione's forehead was creased again as she weighed her words carefully.

She turned and looked at Sirius, the one with whom her life seemed connected with.
"I saved his life. For the second time, I saved his life. In doing so I tripped." She turned back to the headmaster.
"I do not think I can or should explain how's and why's Professor. My presence in this time should not be possible, yet it is so. It cannot be undone."

"'If it be now, 'tis not to come. If it be not to come, it will be now. If it be not now, yet it will come—the readiness is all.'" Sirius quoted quietly.
"Ah, Shakespeare," Dumbledore smiled at them both. "Never a man more learned in the power and punctuation of words." He stood and walked around the desk, gently taking Hermione's hands.
"I imagine that in your very near future we will have a discussion again." He guided them to the door.
"Alas, that I must travel the long way. It was a pleasure to have met you and I look forward to meet you again."

Leaving the headmasters office, they walked the halls slowly towards the great hall for some breakfast. Sirius found her hand and gave it a squeeze. Hermione looked up at him and smirked, "So you are acquainted with Hamlet?"
"I was always a sucker for melodramatic soliloquies. I blame Moony. He insisted we required culture and dragged us all to a performance, during the holidays one Christmas." Sirius smiled as he reminisced, "The first week back all James and I did, was quote Shakespeare. It made for a rather dramatic performance when Minnie put us on detention for it."
Hermione laughed. "I can imagine."

Before they reached the great hall Sirius swerved and pulled her into an empty broom closet just off the entrance hall.
"Sirius, what-" her protest was cut off as pulled her into a searing kiss that left her breathless when he pulled away,

"If I could, I would have this moment last for eternity." He breathed, his gaze burned through her, her heart skipping a beat in her chest, "And if an eternity we could have, I'd gladly have this moment," pulling her back into another searing, sensual kiss she melted against him. Neither paid heed to the whispering or the wind, until she was gone. Sirius rested his hands against the wall closing his eyes.