THE VEIL

Chapter 22

11th June 1994 – Sun, Surf and Hippogriffs

Hermione drifted through the grey. She was beyond exhausted. She wanted to come out at the end of this, and be whole, but she had left parts of her scattered through time since 1965. The grey was an enemy. The grey was her friend. The grey was her escape. The whispering drifted about her, loud and quiet, distant and near. She no longer felt like Alice from Wonderland, more like Dorothy just wanting to find her way home. Yet there was no yellow brick road, just the grey and the endless whispering. There were too many wizards, with too many promises. Her chest ached, and she curled into a ball. She was so close to her time. She had only needed to hold on just a little longer. The wind wrapped around her and pulled. The grey changed around her and then lightning flashed. The wind was no longer pulling her, it now buffeted her. The whispering was replaced by howling. She was falling.

Sirius and Buckbeak flew through the storm both drenched to the bone but neither man nor hippogriff cared. They both in that moment were enjoying the freedom and joy of being alive. Sirius shouted into the storm, arms stretched wide as the clouds unleashed torrents of rain upon them as Buckbeak rode the winds of the storm. Harry's Hermione; he now referred the present Hermione as; had helped ensure his escape from the dementors. He had forgotten how much the witch hated flying. He had forgotten so much. Seeing Harry's Hermione for the first time shocked him. He knew that she was friends with James's son, she had told him herself. His Hermione had known everything that had happened. He found it odd that Peter didn't recognise her, but at the time he was more focused on killing the bastard. Then reuniting with Remus. He saw pain in Remus that wasn't there last time he saw the man. He hoped one day they could sit down and make proper amends.

Thunder rolled around the pair as they flew. It was a thrilling feeling being in the clouds amongst the storm. As the thunder rolled away he felt a warmer breeze, carrying a whispering that had nothing to do with the storm. Ahead the clouds parted as Lightning flashed before his eyes dazzling him. He could still see bright sparks when an echoing scream caught him on the wind. Buckbeak squawked and tilted downwards following the falling form of Hermione as she appeared through the clouds.

"Hermione!" Sirius shouted and urged Buckbeak into a steeper dive to get under her as she fell. Hermione screamed again as she saw them trying to catch her.
"Come on Buckbeak! Faster" Sirius urged and the Hippogriff pulled its wings tight and they nosedived faster than Sirius thought possible. Both now moving at speed towards the falling witch, it seemed they would collide. Buckbeak squawked again opening his wings as the falling form of Hermione met the open arms of Sirius.

"I've got you. I've got you, my little fairy." Sirius soothed in Hermione's ear as she clung to him. "Sh. Sh. You're safe. Hermione, I've got you." Thunder rumbled loudly overhead again suddenly that she drew tighter to Sirius. Sirius using his knees directed the Hippogriff towards land and kept whispering assurances in her ear all the way down. Buckbeak landed gently onto a beach where the storm was lessening as it went out to sea. The Hippogriff lowered his front paws in a bow for Sirius to slide off still holding Hermione in his arms. Hermione was now as soaked as him, her hair flat to her head. She looked up with terrified eyes into Sirius's rain and tears clinging to her lashes. Sirius breath caught in his throat.

"Gods you are beautiful." He whispered, capturing her lips with his. Slowly lowering them both to the ground Sirius sat in the sand with Hermione in his lap, he slowly pulled away.
"You have always had a way of falling into my arms haven't you?" Sirius chided, smirking at the witch in his arms. Hermione looked into those grey eyes. Some of the brightness had returned to him. They looked less tarnished than the last time that she had seen him; when he was in her house just escaped from Azkaban.

Sirius frowned at her. Her chocolate brown eyes full of doubt and worry, she looked so vulnerable. His strong, brave, beautiful young witch that he had seen come in and out of the past had changed so much. She clung to him tightly, not saying a word in reply. Her breathing was slowly returning to normal.
"Oh my Princess what a pair we make." He said softly, kissing the top of her head gently. Hermione shivered and Sirius held her closer, and began humming a certain lullaby Hermione recognised. So they sat there as Sirius softly hummed, watching together as dawn broke over the horizon. Buckbeak had moved to the water's edge splashing through the waves.

As the sun rose higher into the sky Sirius stood and pulled Hermione up. Her hands began weaving tightly together that looked painful. Pulling out his wand, Sirius cast a drying charm on her, her hair tightening into ringlets. He cast one upon himself and looked around to see where Buckbeak had brought them. They had flown over the Atlantic, since escaping from his fate again by the dementors. It was an island, he knew from the outline as they landed, it also seemed like it was deserted. Taking Hermione's hand they walked the short distance from the powder white sand to the leafy palm trees, as the sun's heat grew more intense. Buckbeak followed behind, for a short distance then collapsed in the shade to have a nap. As he suspected Hermione's curiosity brought her out of her shell a little. Together they explored the island hand in hand. It was rather small. It only took an hour to cross it, and three hours to walk around it. The centre of the island was dense and there was a fresh water spring.

A storm rolled through in the afternoon and they took shelter with a combination of magic and palm leaves. She hadn't spoken a word all day. The rain pattered down around them, he watched Hermione as she looked out into the rain. He was by no means, back to normal himself, yet he had the fortune of time over the past year to move past many of his own insecurities and doubts that had plagued him for the last twelve years. Hermione he knew had not had the time at all to spend in reflection and process all of the events she had been through. She was thin, to the point of being unhealthy, her eyes a storm of emotions and doubts. As the storm eased Sirius stood and stretched. Holding out his hand to her he asked, "I think if we are going to stay here Princess, we should make a shelter."

Hermione's troubled eyes looked at him for a long moment before nodding. She pulled out her wand and pointed. Sirius had his out as well, nodding to her. Between them they had cut several trees and created a single room cabin with a fire pit in the centre. Hermione went a step further creating an outhouse a short way from the house, charming it so there it smelled like citrus. Sirius transfigured loose branches into furniture filling the empty space.

Night had fallen when they were finished. Hermione cast a fire charm in the centre of the fire pit lighting the inside of the cabin and warmth. The night grew cold quickly. They hadn't eaten anything, something that Sirius would fix in the morning. But for now, he just wanted his witch to come back to him.
Hermione sat curled up on the lounge he had transfigured, her eyes wide staring into the flames. In the flickering light her eyes glowed.

"Hermione, what happened?" He asked her gently. She didn't move her eyes. When he thought she wasn't going to speak he stood and moved to sit on the step just outside. Her tremulous voice reached him.
"You left me. You went to prison. I could not save you. I could not save them. I wanted to die. I was done. I didn't want to be torn from the world and come out with you there in that place. But I did. I was taken from the world where it was warm and loved. I left Remus alone. I went into your madness. And before I could comprehend that I was thrown into an ocean to nearly drown. And you left me. Again." Sirius put his head in his hands; as he listened to her speak about what he had missed in his own desperate need to find Peter. He neglected her. He never meant to hurt her, but he had.

"Then I came back, and Remus found me again. He – we – it was too much. I was relieved when I was pulled away. And then I was falling, at first I thought it was through the grey. And you came. I was ready to let go of it all. But you came. Now I'm here. Nowhere. Not in my time. I – I- just w-want to go h-home." Hermione began to sob. Sirius sat on the steps weeping for her, for him. He took a ragged breath and went over to her; he picked her up and gathered her in his arms. She was still so young and he had aged over decade since last time they were together. It was not something he cared to think about at this moment. He curled up with her on the bed and combed her hair until she fell asleep, hoping that she would not be pulled from him anytime soon.

Morning came and he was rudely awoken by two owls. Both were clearly from Hogwarts and were impatient. Hermione stirred next to him as he opened the letters. One was from Dumbledore, congratulating him for his escape and request to correspond regarding Harry's welfare. The other was from Remus. He wrote to offer his assistance in anyway and his repeated apologies for his belief that he had blamed Sirius for Lily and James's deaths. When he finished reading the letters he looked up to see Hermione studying him. Her eyes were still troubled but she gave him a small smile. A shard of hope to cling to.

Their day was spent searching for food. Sirius had turned into his dog form to hunt out things to eat. The island seemed to have a decent supply of coconuts; pawpaw's and dates, as well as fish and crab. Buckbeak stayed near the cabin and frequented the beach. The hippogriff seemed to love dashing through the spray, and hunting in the water for fish. Hermione and Sirius sat on the beach eating pawpaw, watching the hippogriff race along the shore. They talked about his time on the run and she spoke with some difficulty about what happened after he was arrested and imprisoned. Sirius privately resolved that he owed a debt of gratitude to Remus as she explained the 6 weeks she had spent with him, healing physically and emotionally.

She had pulled out the sketch pad for him. He took it back reverently, some of the memories he had forgotten were sketched in the book. The time in prison had dulled so many of his wonderful moments of his life before he was locked away. They talked about Harry. She told him in more detail about his aunt and uncle. They seemed only slightly less awful than his mother had been to him. He wished with all his heart that he could help his godson get out of that. He talked to her about seeing her younger self and the shock it had been. Hermione smiled remembering it herself, that was the first time, the very first time she had met him, the very first time she had saved him.
Sirius grinned, "I am glad it was you and Harry that saved me. I'm glad that he has good friends around him." Night had fallen again, and they made their way back to the cabin, a companionable silence between them.

Days slowly moved by and Hermione encouraged Sirius to write to Harry, and respond to his letters. Sirius encouraged Hermione to talk, and heal. Both treasured the time that they were given taking each day together, pushing past the fear of when they would inevitably be separated. The island became their refuge their escape from their own realities. Sirius had created a hammock for Hermione to read, all she had was the battered copy of Shakespeare, yet reading it was almost a comfort. Hermione had pulled out all the clothes she had and transfigured them to clothes for both of them, including swimming costumes, especially after the first time that Sirius grabbed her fully clothed and carried her squealing into the ocean. He would do it frequently.

Hermione pushed him to teach her to apparate. He was an excellent teacher, and Hermione mastered it quickly. The days slipped into weeks. And both were making amends to the past. Hermione had moments when she was melancholy, but when he pushed her she just smiled sadly saying that there were still somethings that were not ready to be told. Through the time that they were on the island Dumbledore and Remus kept in contact, sending him food packages, as well as parchment and ink to respond. Sirius had also flown Buckbeak to a town, discovering that they were in the Caribbean. Hermione had bluntly refused to get back on the animal, and stayed behind.

He returned in the evening, bringing back supplies, including a portable radio and a new book. That night after dinner, with the radio playing music they danced in the moonlight, Hermione laughing and smiling, as he twirled her to the music. It was one of the first real genuine happy moments she had since falling from the clouds. Sirius laughed with her as they danced carefree. The song finished to an ad break and Sirius spun her into his arms. He was still having reservations about the age now clearly between them. His reservations were cut off when Hermione stood on her tiptoes and pulled him into a deep kiss.
"Stop thinking Sirius." She breathed pulling away, looking into his storm grey eyes, hers burning with intensity. "Age doesn't matter. I love you." She captured his lips again, kissing until he growled into her mouth. He lifted her up and carried her back into the cabin, reacquainting themselves with each other fully.

Their stay over summer in the Caribbean tanned both of them. The sun had also added golden highlights through Hermione's brown curls. Their island paradise that they had created for themselves allowed both of them to pull away from the depression that had been eating away at both of them. Sirius and Hermione had spoken about when she would be pulled away again, promising that when she did make it back to her own time they would come here again.

With the radio present Hermione knew Harry's birthday was drawing closer. Between the frequent parcels from Remus and Dumbledore and Sirius's intermittent trips to a nearby populated island she had the ingredients to make a cake for Sirius to send his godson. Harry had written weeks ago requesting food as the Dursley's had decided to half starve him. Hermione put preserving charms on the cake for travel as Sirius wrote him a birthday card. They managed to convince a large macaw to fly the parcel to him. Hermione remembered that Harry had loved the tropical birds that Sirius had sent with his letters and food parcels.

Another week slipped by. Both of them had come to accept the brief happiness they were granted and made the most of it together. The evening was warm, and the moon was full lighting the beach in silvery radiance. The sand seemed to glow and the water was like liquid mercury rippling against the shore. Sirius and Hermione swam through cool water, floating on its surface, both close to each other, eyes never leaving the other. Sirius swam nearer, their bodies almost touching, the water gently rising and falling around them, small waves lapping at the shore. A gentle breeze gusted across the mercurial waters. They turned their heads as the whispering followed on the trail. Hermione sighed, "And so my happiest summer is coming to a close."

Sirius pulled her against him in the water, kissing her fiercely, "We will both come back here, when you get back to your time Princess." He promised her. He apparated them back to the cabin. The breeze lazily followed the whispering growing. Hermione grabbed her wand and summoned her beaded purse. Sirius held her caressing her tanned skin and kissed her softly. The whispering wrapped around them, and pulled her softly away.

The island was not the same with Hermione's presence around. He spent his time putting wards around the cabin. Their cabin. He had been revived with her there but his melancholy slowly came back as the days slipped by. He was packing his things ready to move on when Hedwig flew through the window of the cabin. She had a letter from Harry. He read through it twice and put ink to paper. Between Dumbledore and Hermione, Harry's attempt to down tone his scar hurting was seen through, easily and concern for his godson grew rapidly.

He sent Hedwig on her way and finished packing and prepared to fly north. Dumbledore had hinted that events at Hogwarts this year meant possible dangers and he now more than anything else wanted to be near his godson to help. Calling Buckbeak, he slung his pack over his shoulder and mounted the Hippogriff, flying into the night heading north. Hoping also to see his Hermione again soon.