A/N: I threw three House quotes in this one. Hope you like it.
Insistent rapping on the door brought Sirius up from the kitchen the next morning. He looked out the peephole, and saw Charlie Weasley looking back at him. He quickly opened the door and gestured for him to enter.
"Enough people came in without asking before, you don't need to knock," he told the redhead with a smile and a handshake.
"Wars over. I thought that the formalities should come back into play."
Sirius nodded. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Ron told me Hermione might be here. I needed a quick word before I head back to Romania."
"She's just coming down for breakfast," Sirius nodded, leading him down to the kitchen. When they entered Hermione was sitting down, reaching for the cereal.
"Good morning, Charlie," she smiled faintly as she stood to give him a quick hug.
"Morning, 'Mione. I was heading back to Romania, and I thought I should tell you about your parents."
"Charlie has been acting as 'Charlie Wilkins', my Dad's brother, so he knows where in Australia they went. I thought it would be safest if I didn't know. He has been communicating with them once a month or so, to make sure they were okay. If he couldn't get in touch with them I could know if something went wrong," Hermione explained.
"I talked to your dad the night before the battle. They're both doing well."
"That's good," Hermione said sadly.
Charlie slid an envelope across the table. "That's the address of the house they bought in Queensland. Your mum says she's making some good friends, and they're both working at the same dental office. They seemed very happy, Hermione."
"Oh," she looked at the table glumly.
"We're going to be heading to Australia in a day or two," Sirius said to Charlie as he went to wrap an arm around Hermione. "We'll find your mum and dad as soon as you want to, Hermione."
"But they seem happy," she muttered.
Sirius hugged her reassuringly. "They'll be much happier knowing their daughter, and knowing she is happy and safe. You promised them you'd go get them, right?"
She nodded.
"At the risk of sounding like your parent, you wouldn't break a promise to your mother, would you?"
She shook her head. "We'll go get them. I just need some time off before I have to explain everything I've been doing to them."
"That's totally understandable," he muttered, rubbing her back encouragingly.
"I've got to get going," Charlie announced. "Sirius, could you come with me?"
Sirius looked confused but left Hermione to follow him. Charlie walked up to the front hall before he turned to talk to Sirius.
"This needs to stay away from my Mum," he said, "because she'll kill my dad if she finds out he's been hiding this, but I brought your bike back." He extended the keys towards Sirius.
A broad smile crossed Sirius' face as he took the keys. He and Charlie said their quick good-byes and Charlie Apparated away. Before the crack from the Apparation had finished echoing he threw open the front door and saw his beloved bike sitting in the front lawn. He rushed over to it, and lovingly ran a hand over it. Arthur had done his best to fix it, but there were signs that the bike had been through a lot. Oh, well. He had nothing but time now. He could fix it himself, give it the love and attention it deserved.
He cast a few protective spells over the bike. No Muggles could see Number Twelve, but he had no idea how many Wizards now knew the secret. It couldn't hurt to protect it. He headed back inside and bounded down the stairs. Hermione was bent over her cereal, looking utterly depressed. He wasn't sure what to do. He wanted to go, take the young witch in his arms, and hold her until she knew that he'd do whatever he could to make her the happy woman he once knew. But he was worried about overstepping the boundaries. He had been touching her a lot recently, and he was afraid that she would think he was wanting more than what he was.
He walked in silently and slid into place across from her.
"What did Charlie want to see you about?" she asked, fake interest in her voice.
"He brought my bike back. Arthur had been keeping it, he was just returning it for me."
"That's nice," she smiled sadly before returning to her cereal.
"Is there anything I can do for you, Hermione?"
"Oh, Sirius. I know I'm being a horriblehouse guest. It's just been so much recently."
"Say no more. I'm headed to the travel agent right now. Is there anything else you need before I go?"
She shook her head weakly.
A sudden urge to go wrap his arms around her, twist his fingers in her hair, to breathe her in washed over him, but he shook off the urge. This was Hermione Granger, his feelings were only because he hated to see such a good friend, such a good person, hurting. They must be.
He walked out of Grimmauld Place and started walking towards the travel agent. It was a good two mile walk, and he was happy to get out and walk around. No Padfoot here, just Sirius. The day was warm, Muggle girls were walking around in shorts and skirts that barely left anything to the imagination. He had fun looking, but the desire was gone. He could have his fill of easy women if he wanted to, could have a different one each night if he desired, but something was different. He had faced death many times before, and nothing had changed, but he was a different man coming out of the Veil. Almost dying changes nothing. Dying changes everything, and he had, in a way, died.
A tiny bell above the door tinkled as he walked into the office. A woman, not much older than himself, looked up from her computer. A wide smile came across her face.
"Sirius Black?" she asked in disbelief. "Last I heard you were innocent and dead."
He shook his head in shock slightly. He had no idea that they had published anything about his death, nor his innocence, in the Muggle papers. "Well obviously the news must have it wrong, as I'm standing right here in front of you, love."
"That you are. Though I doubt you'd come see an old woman like me after, how long has it been?"
"Twenty years, but who's counting?" he smiled charmingly at her.
"Awful shock seeing your face on the telly a few years back, saying you had escaped from prison and were 'armed and dangerous' as they say."
"Yes, well," his face fell. "I'm here about a little getaway."
"Oh, lovely!" she said, returning to her computer. "Where would you like to go? I have some great deals on trips to America..."
"Australia."
"Really?"
"Yes. I've always wanted to go, and I figured now is the best time."
"Alright then. Where to in Australia?"
"Queensland. I've heard good things."
"As have I. When were you wanting to leave?"
"As soon as possible."
"All right. What kind of accommodations were you looking for?"
"Five-star. I want the best. Either two rooms or a two bedroom suite, preferably the latter. I've been in shit-holes for far too long, I need to be sitting in luxury for a while."
"Taking a family...?"
"A very good female friend."
Her smile faltered while typing on her computer. "I found a two-bedroom rooftop suite with a private hot tub, is that kind of what you were looking for?"
"Perfect."
"And how long were you wanting to stay?"
"I'm thinking three weeks."
"Three weeks is going to cost you quite a pretty penny, Mr. Black. Your lady friend must be very special."
"Let's just say she makes me feel alive again."
_____
Hermione had lunch ready when Sirius got home. She laid the modest sandwiches and soup in front of him, and he smiled warmly as if the lackluster lunch was a gourmet meal.
"How was the travel agent?" she asked, a glimmer of hope in her voice.
"We can check in at three PM tomorrow, their time."
A smile crossed her face, and for the first time in a while it lingered. "Are you sure you don't want me to pay my portion?"
"I'm sure," Sirius smiled back. He didn't want her to know how much he was spending at the hotel. She didn't need to worry about anything else, least of all money.
"Thank you again," she whispered.
"Just make sure you're packed," Sirius smiled. "And bring a bathing suit."
"Bathing suit? You do know it's winter in Australia, right?"
"I do. Just bring one."
"I'm not going to fight you on it," she shrugged.
"Good. That's just a good attitude to have in general when dealing with me," he smiled cockily.
She smiled at him, but retuned her attention to the stove quickly. She had no real reason to turn away, but there was something growing slightly in the pit of her stomach. Something she had felt before. But certainly not. This was Sirius Black. He was older than her. He was Harry's godfather. She was only having any ideas like that because she hadn't been able to for so long.
"How are we getting there?" she asked, moving the dishes to the sink.
"I told you not to worry about anything, so don't worry about it."
"See, that very statement makes me worry."
"What, Hermione?" he grinned, leaning back. "Do you think I'd hurt you?"
"No, I..."
"You can trust me."
"Problem is, if I can't trust you, I can't trust your statement that I can trust you. But thanks anyway, you've been a big help."
He raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk across his face. "Maybe spending a vacation with me wouldn't be the best thing for you. I can see I'm already rubbing off on you."
"Arrogance has to be earned. Tell me what you've done to earn yours," she turned back to him, returning the playful smile.
"Touché," he responded, smiling. "Now go pack. We're leaving soon."
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