Thanks to TheUnrealInsomniac for his beta work and encouragement. He's a fantastic writer who's work I can't get enough of. If you enjoy Harry/Daphne fics or James!Alive fics go give his a try. You can find him on my faves lists.
Silver
Sky
Hermione Granger was a creature of habit.
Her days were spent carefully measured into routines and patterns that ruled her life. He wouldn't judge anyone for that but Sirius didn't get how a person with such a mysterious past could be so fucking dull.
Everyday she followed the same schedule - the same damn things and he was fit to burst with boredom.
'One ... two ... three ...' counted Sirius under his breath as Granger dropped three bat fangs into a mortar.
Next she'd pound it into a fine dust and add in essence of snail ... and now she'll add it to her Anti-sweating potion, stir sixteen times counterclockwise ... twelve times clockwise ... then she'd wait for the-
An orange cloud erupted from the cauldron and Granger's smile emerged from within the dissipating mist. An airy hand waving away the smoke before adding five drops of Black Widow's venom and stirring the potion clockwise again. Her resulting smile told him all he needed to know.
Another successfully brewed potion. Well done.
Sirius yawned as the witch flitted across the cellar to gather twenty empty potion vials.
It would take her two trips. She'd fill them to capacity, bottle them up and then proceed to write a label. Which he would then assist with a well placed Gemino charm and she'd have her twenty labels and would then paste them on the vials. After that's done, she'd move to the next potion on the list. As it was a Friday, she would be brewing a Hair Removal Cream, Pepper-Up and a Bad Breath Banishing Brew.
Once done, she would scrub and clean the tools with enough time left to take over the shop for the last two hours of the day after Tony left. At six, they would close down the shop- she with Muggle means and he with powerful Black wards that would piss off his parents. Afterwards, they would walk down to The Lamb and Flag where he would buy himself a quick meal, usually a sandwich. Back to Batty's where she would stay and he would conjure himself a seat and eat his meal. Notice-Me-Not Charm or invisibility spell optional until blissful relief ended his mind numbing torment at eight.
Sitting and watching. This was his life now.
He'd been bored by the end of their first day. Three, almost four weeks in and he was at his wit's end. Ready to scream, if only to break the monotony.
He was so fucking bored.
Sirius had never thought he'd miss a fight or long for a duel yet here he was, sat in corner, watching Granger brew her potions, wishing for some excitement. A moth had flown in two days ago and had repeatedly flown into the window in an attempt to escape. That'd been interesting. He'd named him Pietra. Had given it an interesting back story and everything, but then they'd arrived this morning to find her dead.
Sirius yawned again, scratching at himself as Granger began to fill her vials.
He was a hypocrite and he knew it. He'd wished for a bit of normalcy before but now he actively hoped for a bit of excitement.
No missions passed on to him anymore. He didn't go on scouting missions, he hadn't been called to work as a distraction in ages and he'd missed more Order meetings than he'd attended - short of an emergency, his sole job was to watch over Hermione Granger.
Guarding her had become his only contribution to the cause and he couldn't help but feel that it wasn't much. Odd circumstances aside, he doubted that watching her dice leeches was aiding the fight against Voldemort. Granted, he hadn't been needed much - the Dark Lord had been quiet but it wasn't going to last much longer. The air was charged with tension. It was only a matter of time before the attacks began again.
The Marauder rubbed his eyes, mental exhaustion making him sluggish.
He'd been stuck in his head far too much that first week. By the second week, he'd begun to focus all that attention to his surroundings, which weren't many. Before he knew it, he'd begun to study Granger.
Boredom, after all, lead into idle watching. Being forced into such a small space with one other person, where talking was beyond your ability, there was nothing else to do but watch and study whatever caught your eye. And all he had was her.
Sirius started as the radio broke out into the next song.
Normally background noise, every so often a song he enjoyed would come on. Him singing along to it or Granger muttering to herself were the only noises either of them made when forced into each others' company. He didn't speak to her unless absolutely necessary and she didn't acknowledge him ever.
This was their routine and it worked for them.
Sirius tapped his foot against the cement floor to the song as the woman began to belt out her proclamation of survival and empowerment. Catchy as fuck all and regrettably Disco- it was still a good song. He rather liked it. Muggles really knew how to do music right. The Beatles alone were proof of that.
He turned the radio up a bit and sat back, head unconsciously nodding.
'-you think I'll lay down and die, Oh no not I! ...' he sang along unthinkingly.
The last lyrics sung, he moved to lower the volume and caught a glimpse of the witch and her rosy cheeks. Eyes bright and shaking with suppressed laughter, Sirius glared at her.
Bitch.
It was a good song, fuck her if she couldn't see it and he'd sing if he wanted. It wasn't his fault she didn't feel the need to validate herself along with the song. He on the other hand did feel like singing about having all his love to give.
And he really did have a lot of love to give. Sirius couldn't remember the last time he'd shagged somebody. It'd been Marley- he knew that much but couldn't think when. All he knew was his boys were blue.
He ran a hand down his face, fighting off the need to sleep. On the opposite side of the room, Granger continued to fight her laughter as she bottled up the last of the potion.
Setting it aside, she reached for a Muggle pen and a label with Olde Rosa's stamped over it. With a yawn and a stretch, Sirius stood on lazy legs and walked over to her table. He pulled out his wand, tapped the label and with a nonverbal command, labels erupted from the single one like a shuffling deck of cards.
Sweeping back his hair, he made his way back towards his stool and sat just as the radio began asking him if he'd ever seen the rain.
Of course I bloody have, thought Sirius as he rubbed his eyes. It's England.
'Damn weather,' he muttered.
Arm over his chest and legs crossed at the heel, he leant against the wall as Granger finished labelling. Eyes heavy, brain muddled from inactivity and lulled by the heat his eyes fell shut. He dozed.
Caught between the realm of sleep and awareness, time became meaningless. He felt the music, smelt the bubbling cauldrons and heard Granger muttering to herself but none of it mattered.
Hours or perhaps several minutes later, the sound of a bottle breaking brought him back to the present and his eyes snapped open. Dazed, Sirius turned just in time to see Granger attempting a Vanishing spell and for the hundredth time, the Marauder wondered where her own wand was and what had happened to her magic. He'd learnt his lesson though. Asking - talking - to her was out of the question and so he kept his silence. His curiosity once again wildly out of control.
He saw her shoulders drop the second resignation set in. Once again he pulled out his wand.
Helping her was equal parts guilt, boredom and pity. It was a habit they had gotten themselves into. Borne out of necessity and for the sake of peace rather than kindness. Though his help was now comfortably accepted, it hadn't always been welcomed.
It began with an accident. A spill which melted a vial, whose contents mixed with the original potion. A cloud of toxic, green smoke and he saved the day with a flick of his wand.
Granger has a tendency to spread out her tools beside her. In perfect little rows and always in order of necessity. She had a clear preference for her silver cutting knife, she refused to begin a new potion until she cleaned off all her work area to avoid unnecessary clutter and judging by her sour expressions, the witch loathed making a mistake. Which didn't happen often.
The brunette clearly took pleasure in work. Her face lit up as she prepared to brew, to say nothing of her smile after she'd finished a potion.
People like that - like her - thrived on success and order. Asking for help was out of the question.
So she hadn't said thanks when he saved her arse. She'd just glared.
Granger was a petite thing and some of the shelves were high. After watching her struggle for nearly half an hour, he summoned the damn thing for her. Her pride had been hurt and he'd smiled. Admittedly, he'd enjoyed watching her suffer at first but by the end of the second week, his smug attitude had turned to shame and she'd learnt to accept his help.
It was little Michael Jones and his bad blood that opened Sirius' eyes to Granger.
Everyone in Godric's Hollow knew about little Michael and every magical person in the village knew that he was given a Blood Replenishing Potion by Tony Cox who saw his magic as a gift from his God.
At the age of six, Michael hated the taste of the potion no matter how much better it made him feel. When he'd entered the cellar a week ago now, followed by his tired Mum, the little boy had begun to cry. He didn't like the yucky medicine he'd cried and no one could soothe him long enough to guarantee that he would drink it all in one go like a good little boy. With a soothing smile and a gentle voice Granger had gotten him to drink it for her.
He didn't know how it usually went but by the pleased look on Tony's face and the grateful and relieved one from Michael's mum, he had to guess that it'd never gone as smoothly as he'd witnessed.
Sirius' guilt at his previous actions grew a bit more. The shame definitely intensified and Remus' voice grew louder. That's when he began to really pay attention.
What he'd previously thought a bad perm job was just her hair. He learned that she enjoyed reading. She was also clever and kind.
She was scared of her own shadow, always jumping at the slightest noise from above.
Because he had nothing better to do than watch her, Sirius gained first-hand knowledge about her magic - most of which was accidental. The witch had limited control and though she wasn't powerful, flashes of her abilities shined through.
The witch had actually managed to vanish and Accio items with ease when not focused. It was when she tried that her magic failed her. And she often tried. He wasn't sure but having seen it first-hand during battle, where even a seasoned Auror's magic failed - he suspected it was due to an extreme emotional upheaval. Her face would turn sour or she'd scowl and her shoulders would drop, that was usually the time he acted. Sirius had gotten quite familiar with her expressions - which had currently turned to surprise as the sound of running footsteps rang above them, quickly followed by a cheer from Tony.
Clearly excited, Sirius didn't see the need to pull out his wand but he did it anyway. The firm pressure comforting. He turned to Granger only to catch her holding onto the Potioneer's Wand firmly.
Within minutes the cellar door flew open and he'd just managed to cover himself with the cloak when Tony barged into the room, Rosa on his heels. The smiling man turned to Hermione and laughed as he put an arm around a teary Rosa.
'Our daughter was just born!'
A pause and then Granger dropped her wand on the table as he felt his own smile forming.
'Congra- Oh my God! Tony, Rosa! Congratulations!'
The brunette reached out to the petite Muggle woman, embracing her as the older woman's tears continued to fall.
'Mí bebé Herminny. Mí bebé!'
'I know Rosa,' said Granger, now reaching for Tony. 'When did it happen? I thought it was too soon?!'
The tall bloke nodded, 'Bit early yeah, but she's fine and all's well. We're going to go and catch a train to Liverpool. She'll need to stay in hospital for a bit, procedure or something to check her lungs and all other things- we don't know!' laughed Tony. 'We'll be gone a week? I'm not quite sure. Hermione can you man the shop? If not, we'll give you the week off-,'
'-Con pago!'
Tony nodded. 'With pay of course.'
The witch agreed immediately, as Sirius knew she would and with a few more pleasantries and questions the ecstatic couple left the cellar. Granger stopped her dicing, turned off the flame and began to clean her work table. He checked the time. Ten minutes after four. They had to move upstairs now.
Sirius' mind wandered towards the happy couple. It was a well known fact that the Cox's had wanted a kid for years. They'd never managed it though. He'd once overheard Mrs. Potter and Batty gossip and the gist of it was that all their pregnancies resulted in miscarriages. Mrs. Potter had been sympathetic and Batty in her usual way had questioned their need for a child at all. She'd never wanted them.
Sirius was happy for them, they were obviously overjoyed. The bloke may get on his nerves and Rosa frustrated him on account of her English - honestly the fucking woman had been in country for years, something should've stuck by now - but all that aside... they were good people, they'd make great parents.
But ... why? he wondered as Granger continued to clean and the music played.
The world was shit. War was a constant and very real threat. Tony was a Muggleborn married to a Muggle. Death was a possibility. Why would anyone consider bringing a child into their lives with those odds?
Then again, he'd never wanted kids to begin with so it probably went over his head. Either way, whether he agreed with it or not, his lips still formed a rueful smile as he wished the couple a safe trip and for the sprog's lungs to be okay.
Sirius was about to pull off the cloak when a creak of stairs rang out and the door opened once again.
'Bleeding Christ Hermione, I forgot ... tonight's the Mottlewart harvest. I usually do it but obviously I can't now - could you perhaps do it? I'll understand if you can't as it's last minute and all, feel free to say no. We can miss these six months, it's alright.'
Sirius turned towards the brunette mentally willing her to say no. To have her come up with some bloody excuse and shut him down.
'Sure.'
Fuck.
'Brilliant! Thank you! The mushrooms are just over the ridge by the small spring. They glow in the dark so they'll be easy to spot. Thank you love, truly!'
A creak of stairs, a rumbling of running footsteps and a roar of an engine and the couple was gone. Sirius glared at the sodding witch as he threw off the cloak. She had no fucking idea as to what she'd just agreed to do.
He licked his lips, clenched his fists and fought the urge to swear at her.
'Do you know what you've just done?'
Granger stopped her cleaning and slowly lifted her head. Brown, hate-filled eyes glared him down and Sirius fought the urge to reach for his wand.
'Don't. Talk to me.'
He stood and pointed at the door. 'Do you have any idea what you just agreed to?'
'I said stop talking to-,'
'-No. Fuck off! Do you know where the hell you'll need to go?!'
The brunette stopped whatever was going to come out of her stupid mouth and a fleeting look of insecurity crossed her face before it was replaced with a cool mask of indifference and annoyance. He clenched his jaw.
'You don't do you?'
Granger sniffed, her bloody nose up in the air. 'Of course I do. I agreed to pick some toadstools for Tony.'
'Yeah. In the mountains. Which are over three hours away. That spring he talked about? It's in a dense wood which has a Death Eater camp hidden - far away from Dumbledore's wards!'
Silence, thick and heavy, as the glimmer of defiance faded from her eyes. She swallowed and her mouth opened and closed several times.
'I... I'm-,'
Sirius continued to watch the witch, secretly enjoying her reaction. Granger shut her eyes as the radio began to malfunction. He quickly shut it off. It was his only friend in this damn room and he didn't want it getting hurt because of her.
'I said I'd do it.'
His head shot up and his mouth fell open. That'd been the last thing he'd expected to hear. Granger's eyes opened, the stubborn gleam was back.
'Like hell!'
'You have no say in it. I'm going.'
He took a step towards her. 'Look Granger, I don't know who the hell you think you are but there's no way in hell you're going.'
'You can't stop me.'
Sirius smirked as he pulled out his wand. 'Believe me sweetheart, I can.'
She stiffened then. Whether from his tone or wand he wasn't sure, but it didn't do a damn thing to temper her.
'I'm going. With or without you, I will go because I said I would!'
Sirius gaped at her. At the angry gleam in her eyes and at the stubborn set of her jaw. Her posture - everything about ber screamed defiance. Damn bitch looked ready to argue to hell and back.
He blinked, running a hand through his hair. He believed her. She'd go one way or another. The fact that he was forbidding it was incentive enough to make her go.
He could begrudgingly respect that. She'd promised to help out a friend and was determined to follow through regardless of her own personal risk. He understood the impulse all too well.
He shook his head, pushing back his fringe in agitation. 'Do you have your Port-key with you?'
She gave him a single nod. He wanted to throttle something.
Where was James when you needed him?
The last two hours crept along at first but all too quickly it was time to go.
Ambushes and accidental encounters with Death Eaters filled his mind. Granger hadn't sat still since they'd moved upstairs, she'd cleaned the counter several times and organised the smaller displays a total of eleven times - he'd counted. Then the clock struck six and his gut ached.
They closed up shop and stood in awkward silence. Both unsure what to say, minds occupied with horrible images and possibilities.
He cleared his throat. They needed to get this over with. The sooner the better. He idly wondered if informing Dumbledore or Mad-Eye was in order.
He pointed towards his right.'The Apparation point is that way, beside the broken fountain. If we leave now we can be back in hour.'
Granger turned to him, scowling. 'I'm not going with you! I'm going to ask Batty!'
Sirius very nearly laughed. 'She won't agree to go. Look, let's just go alright?'
'No.'
He couldn't believe this shit.
'You need to pick those toadstools tonight. I know where the hell they are and can Apparate us ... and you're fucking arguing!?'
'I'm not going anywhere with you and that's final.'
He nodded. 'Alright. Yeah. Let's walk to Batty's, collect her and walk all the way back to the fucking edge of town. Cos that doesn't sound unnecessarily pointless.'
'Glad you agree,' she spat before stomping her way down the road.
'She won't want to go.'
Granger sniffed. 'Shows how little you know her. And stop talking to me!'
Ten minutes later a harassed looking Granger walked out of Batty's, surprisingly alone. The brunette lifted her chin and didn't look at him as she spoke.
'She doesn't want to come.'
Sirius threw down his cigarette, glaring. 'Fucking shocker, that.'
Granger didn't reply, her hair ruffling around her as she turned to walk down the path. Sirius ran a frustrated hand through his fringe as he fought the urge to scream.
'Where the hell are you going now?'
She didn't turn around. 'To the Apparation point!'
'Wrong way,' he hissed, hitching his thumb in the opposite direction. 'It's over there.'
Granger stumbled and his lip curled when she huffed and turned. He snickered at her clear annoyance.
'Bit wrong weren't you?'
Hermione didn't reply as she stuck her nose in the air and walked past him. He bowed, arm extended as she did.
'Your Highness,' he spat.
She stopped to glare at him but the witch held her tongue. She did roll her eyes though.
The walk to the broken fountain was strained as they both attempted to be the lead. The result of which had them both walking fast and funny.
'I'm not Apparating,' she announced when they finally reached the Apparation point and his mouth fell open.
'Sorry?'
'I said I'm not Apparating.'
'-Yes, I bloody heard that. Why?'
Hermione didn't answer him but met his stare with a defiant glint in her eyes. Sirius ran a hand through his hair, pushing back his fringe. He cleared his throat, desperately trying to stomp down his temper and tame the bite in his tone.
'The clearing Tony mentioned is hours away.' he gestured to the mountains on their far right. 'Well over that ridge, we can't walk and there's no other way to get there. We need to Apparate.'
Hermione shook her head. 'No.'
His jaw clenched. 'Then how do you expect us to get there?'
'Hooky.'
It took him a second to remember what a Hooky was.
'The elf?'
The brunette nodded, loose curls swaying in the breeze. Sirius shook his head. He couldn't believe her idiotic plan.
'No,' he said.
Her response was immediate and she took a step towards him. The angry glint in her eyes flaring.
'Why not?'
'Cos he's a fucking House-Elf and we're going to get your damn, sodding mushrooms!'
She shook her head, clearly not understanding and he sighed. Of course she doesn't know, he thought. She's a Muggleborn. A new wave of annoyance shot through him. The last fucking thing he'd wanted was to give the prissy pain in his arse a lesson on House-Elves.
'Mottlewart,' he explained with forced calm. 'Isn't just for potions. For House-Elves, it works as an aphrodisiac. Bring him along and he'll start humping everything within reach!'
She looked at him as if he'd suddenly gone starkers and decided to dance. She didn't believe him. Of course she didn't. Like all bloody Muggleborns if a fact wasn't found in the pages of a book she automatically questioned it's authenticity. He couldn't really blame them but Merlin's saggy sack he wanted to fucking blame her for not taking his word as fact.
'That's not true.'
He felt like shouting.
When he spoke his voice was calm if not monotonous. 'Yes it is.'
'I've never read that anywhere.'
'It's not something usually mentioned in a book.'
Suspicious eyes ran the length of him. 'How do you know then?'
He really wanted to shout now.
'Because those with House-Elves buy them in bulk this time of year. Older families know their use during House-Elves mating rituals. The female eats it and her pores release the scent as her body secretes the oils. Then the male licks it off. Shall I explain where he fucking licks?'
'You're making this up,' she accused but he could hear the sense of doubt building.
He sniffed as his lip curled. 'Believe me Granger, I wish. I had the fucked up luck of seeing it as a kid. Give me a damn Pensieve if you really want proof.'
The curly haired witch stared at him and he held eye contact until she looker away.
Stupid bitch.
Fuck this.
Granger opened her mouth to continue arguing but he didn't give her the chance. He grabbed her by the waist, pulled her close and spun on the spot.
She struggled in his grasp but he held her tight, flush against his body as pressure pushed in around them and finally disappeared with a faint pop! as their feet landed on grass.
In the span of a breath, small fists began attacking every inch of him they could. As he fought against the onslaught, Granger began screaming out her displeasure. Her every word punctuated with a punch.
'How DARE YOU?! You bloody BASTARD!'
Sirius' hands instantly moved towards his face as the crazy witch continued her attack. After several backwards steps, he got enough of his bearings to grab her by the shoulders and push her off.
Hermione stumbled, nearly falling, eyes wild and steadily growing incoherent in her rage. 'Don't you ever - you had no rig - not without my permission!'
The Marauder wiped at the corner of his lip, tasting blood. Small patches of skin burned across his face, certain they were scratches. His right cheek ached and he took a step back, fists clenched so tight he could feel his fingernails digging into the palms of his hands. An odd buzz rang in his ears.
A small vibration rolled through him as ripples of energy reached his bones in an uncomfortable sensation. His skin prickled and itched. His teeth rattled and Sirius swallowed thickly as his chest hummed and his breathing became laboured.
Granger stopped her tirade and shut her eyes. Head shaking and panting, the petite witch began muttering something to herself before opening her eyes. The vibrations stopped.
Chest heaving, Hermione put more distance between them.
His heartbeat pounded against his chest and temple. He met her glare with equal fury. He licked the corner of his lip, the fresh taste of copper filling his mouth.
He looked away running a hand through his hair, not trusting himself to maintain his control any longer.
'Don't ever-!'
'-Yeah I fucking heard you the first time! Stop yelling,' he hissed, grey eyes studying their surroundings.
It was too dark. He couldn't see bloody anything and the sun was only now beginning to set.
Granger hadn't moved but he could feel her there, an uncomfortable presence beside him, her glare burning into him. He didn't turn to look at her. Didn't trust himself. Not with blood coating his tongue and his face stinging.
They were surrounded by woods, a miniature waterfall gave the bubbling springs sense of peace and beauty. The reflective pool at it's base, dark and small surrounded by mossy boulders. Scattered around the small wading pool was the Mottlewart. Their odd luminescence lighting the ground around them.
The toadstools themselves resembled miniature rocks at a distance. An odd design which guaranteed their continued lifespan but which ultimately proved worthless because once you got close they shifted back to their true form.
Purple with white-spotted rounded tops, they released a blue and green, sparkling glow and smelt like roses.
They grew together in tiny clusters, all in varying sizes. Were it not for the fact that they glowed, you could easily mistake them for stones patterned together by some curious child.
Fae circles some called them. A portal that supposedly led worthy witches and wizards into the realm of the ancient fae and away from Muggles according to the children stories his parents had told him. Which were a probably warped from the ones normal parents told.
Sirius turned to Hermione and gestured towards the glowing clusters.
'Get to it Granger. I don't actually think there's Death Eaters about but I'd rather not find out.'
She didn't argue. The witch pulled out her trusty silver knife and a bag from her purse as she approached the nearest circle.
The sky turned dark blue and the moon shone brightly against its starry backdrop. Around him the mushrooms glowed brighter. The woods grew darker. Stood in the middle of this clearing, they were out in the open and could be surrounded by hidden sinister faces with nasty intentions.
Sirius turned around and began to walk towards the nearest bushes when Hermione called out.
'Where are you going?' screeched Granger.
He flinched and tightened the grip on his wand, eyes trained on her but focused entirely on their surroundings.
'To piss if that's alright with you?' he snapped.
The witch gave him a dirty look before brown eyes scanned the woods behind him and quickly moved back to the toadstools.
Sirius ducked behind some bushes, keeping Granger in sight. Were she to turn, he doubted she'd be able to see him. The woods were too thick at night.
Eyes trained on her, he focused his magic inwards. A surge of magic at his core, tingling limbs and a moment's heat as his body flushed hot. Colours faded to bland grey and the darkness grew light as the scents of the forest and roses reached his snout.
An all too familiar scent reached him last and he felt his fur stand on end. He growled, a deep grumble that vibrated through him.
Sickly sweet and thick, the faint smell of fear lingered in the air. Padfoot's ears perked up, listening the tell-tale snap of wood or the slow and steady sound of exhaled breaths.
He changed back. Colours returned, the darkness no longer impenetrable but the odour remained. Eyes searching, palms sweaty, hands trembling, Sirius reached for his wand.
They had to leave. Now.
He took measured steps, fighting against the instinct gifted to him by Padfoot which demanded he run. With his every step the smell grew stronger and his heart beat faster.
Sirius was feet away from Granger when the breeze shifted and the odour mixed in with sweat and ... shampoo? The odd combination disgusting and potent.
He looked the area over, wondering which way the scent was coming from. From up ahead, he suspected. It was strong too. The fear. Damn near overwhelming. He had to get Granger out of here and report it to Moody.
He cleared his throat, steps away from the witch when she jumped and swirled around, eyes wide. Her blade out and at arm's length. Like a wand. Her every move caused a whiff of the nauseating odours to hit him.
Sirius blinked.
It was her.
She was scared. Terrified even.
He slowly put his hands up in a calming gesture. 'Alright Granger?'
Frantic eyes briefly closed as she nodded, licking her lips. 'You - you surprised me.'
'Yeah ...'
She was sweating and she'd yet to lower her blade. Her breathing was laboured and her eyes held onto blind panic.
He didn't know what to say. He didn't know her and though he should've, he didn't want to ask if she was alright. His job was to watch her and make sure she survived his shift. Not see to her mental well-being. That wasn't part of the job description.
He nodded at the Mottlewart. 'All done then?'
The witch shook her heard, dark eyes returning to the clusters around them. Without a word, she dropped to her knees and began cutting the mushrooms down.
He swallowed thickly and grimaced at the foul taste of her fear as it coated the back of his throat. Pale eyes lingered on her back as he raised his wand. A silent Accio whispered between his lips.
A loud snap to their left caught their attention, wand and blade lifted in unison and pointed towards the sound.
He released the breath he'd been holding when he saw the shape of a fox run behind a bush, dark with shadows. He turned back to Hermione and his eyes fell on her shaking, outstretched hand. The blade flashing as it shook. A new wave of that sickly sweet smell hit him.
'It was a fox.'
Wide, doe eyes turned to him but he knew she wasn't looking at him.
'A fox?' she asked absentmindedly and Sirius nearly flinched at her childlike tone.
He nodded, staring at the confusion in her eyes. Granger blinked and returned to her task without another word.
He didn't know what made him do it nor did he question it, but Sirius moved beside the kneeling witch and began cutting mushrooms down. After his third one she spoke.
'You're cutting them wrong.'
'No I'm not,' he replied.
'You are. You're cutting too close to the base, you need to cut them in the middle.'
Sirius lifted his head and found her watching him with a critical eye.
'No,' he said with a shake of his head. 'You cut Venomous fungi in the middle, not Floral fungi - which this is. So you're wrong.'
'This isn't floral, it's Morphious and best cut in the middle so you are wrong.'
He sniffed, 'I'm never wrong.'
Granger sniffed right back, 'Clearly you are.'
'Mottlewart isn't from the Morphious species Granger, it's Floral.'
'I work with them, I'm pretty sure I know them better than you.'
Doubt it, I'm older than you.
So what?
So I know better.
No you don't.
Yes I do Reggie.
Fuck you Sirius!
'What? Like the House-Elf effects?'
Granger glared at him and he smirked. She really didn't like being wrong.
'They're Morphious and you're cutting them wrong!'
'Floral and nope.'
The witch opened her mouth but her words turned to shock when an odd rumble broke the night's silence. The pair stood as Roxanne landed a few feet away from them.
Granger's mouth fell open as her eyes settled over his motorbike.
He gestured to it. 'My motorbike,' said Sirius unnecessarily.
The witch moved towards it and Sirius bit back a remark as she touched it.
'It's huge,' she gasped and a spark of pride shot through him at the tone of awe in her voice.
Sirius didn't have many possessions he actually cared about but Roxanne was definitely at the top of that short list.
So proud in fact that he'd never allowed anyone to ride her. Except for the Marauders that is but they didn't count. For all his showing off and bragging he'd never actually let a girl ride her. Usually the birds he chatted up were too pissed or too occupied by the end of the night to remember riding anything but him.
And now Hermione Granger would.
He really fucking hated this.
'Is it?' he deadpanned straddling his bike. 'I hadn't noticed.'
'How could you not?'
The usual answer fell from his lips without a second thought.
'Cos I'm used to handling big things between my legs.'
It took him a second to realise what he'd said. Another for the blood to rush to his face and another for him to realise the witch had gone completely quiet.
He coughed turning away, mentally cursing himself and her. To his left, he heard Granger open her bag and heard the clinking noise of vials knocking together. She cleared her throat and the heat on his face intensified.
He wanted to leave now. He cleared his throat.
'We done here?' he asked, referring to the mushrooms.
The witch shook her head and knelt once again as he sat on his bike, eyes roaming the clearing. If no one had come running to investigate the noise Roxanne made then chances were that the stories of a Death Eater camp were vastly exaggerated.
The sound of bottles reached him and he watched as Granger pulled out a pouch from within her purse which she then filled with the floral fungi.
'I don't know how...' said Granger after she'd finished, gesturing at him and Roxanne.
He didn't turn to look at her as she straightened her back and looked at him.
'Just grab my shoulders as you get your leg over.'
His eyes grew wide and he caught her blush grow bright again as he felt his own face flood with heat.
'Put a leg over the bike - you have to straddle it. I meant, just hold on to me as you straddle it.'
He slammed his eyes shut and bit back a groan. Bashing his head against the handlebars suddenly became a brilliant idea.
What the fuck?!
He heard Granger move and turned just in time to see her flushed face before it disappeared behind him. Sirius struggled to not move away from her touch. It felt wrong. He'd been this close to her yes, but he'd never actually been aware of her. Suddenly he was and it left him feeling awkward and uncomfortable.
Small hands moved against his torso and his stomach caved in instinctively as her smaller frame settled against his, barely touching him. Sirius mentally swore knowing it wasn't enough. He didn't turn his head as he spoke.
'Hold tighter.'
'What?' Granger sputtered behind him.
He could practically feel her shocked eyes burning a hole through his skull. He clenched his jaw before speaking again.
'You have to hold tighter or you'll jerk back when I lift off.'
'I don't understand-,'
'I'll talk slower.'
He felt her glare on the back of his head. 'What do you mean, lift off?'
The Marauder grimaced. 'We'll be flying back.'
Hermione didn't think twice before scrambling off the bike and taking several steps away from the flying deathtrap. Sirius, all awkwardness forgotten, turned to her caught between confusion and shock.
She licked her lips, brown eyes running over the sight of him sat on his motorbike, all proud and self-assured. Completely uncaring of the fact that he was sat on a dangerous object no better than a broomstick which could, with one wrong move, plunge you to your death.
'What's the problem now?'
She nearly flinched at his obvious anger but then she remembered who he was and she stopped caring.
'I don't fly,' she replied with a glare and a vague memory of him and her on a hypogriff.
Hermione clutched at her purse, eyes on the motorbike's wheels trying to remember what'd happened to Buckbeak. She'd not seen him since the Final Battle. She quickly stomped that train of thought down as her memories insisted on pushing through, niggling at the back of her head.
She felt heat race up her back and burn her cheeks as the Marauder continued to stare.
'What do you mean, you don't fly?'
She met his eyes.
'I don't like to fly,' she said with as much conviction as she could, her voice shaky- anxious.
She didn't want to be grabbed and Apparated again. It'd taken everything in her not to break down in a panic. Screaming as she searched for that face. The brunette slammed her eyes shut, head shaking and chest heaving as a familiar prickling spread across her palms.
Stop it, she told herself. Stop it!
She thought of brewing. The satisfaction she felt and the sense of pride with each perfectly brewed potion. The knowledge that the person she was wasn't entirely gone. Whatever had been taken from her, she was still a damn fine potioneer. Her mind was still her own, more weary, but still her's. She refused to allow her past and an unfortunate turn of events destroy the progress she'd made.
It didn't mean she was comfortable with getting grabbed and taken somewhere else against her will. That, she thought, may never go away.
Sirius continued to stare and she knew what he was going to say.
'It's either this, Apparate or summon a House-Elf who'll immediately start to wank. Take your pick.'
She tried really hard not to let the image of Hooky fondling himself take shape and failed miserably. Though traumatic, it still beat falling to her death.
'We can take the road.'
'What road?'
What road indeed. They were surrounded by woods on all sides, not a single dent on the grass to signify life. Bent stems of grass implied steps but none led away from the clearing, Sirius' need of the loo the only exception. Then again, there really wouldn't be since witches and wizards didn't need to drive. Once again, the only exception the nutter in front of her.
Hermione frowned, she turned to him pointing at the glowing circles. 'Is this area well known?'
The Marauder shook his head. 'Only people in Godric's Hollow know. Right. Lesson over? Can we go now?'
She licked her suddenly dry lips. 'Do you have to go high?'
He shook his head, looking away as he ran a hand under his nose.
'I'll go a foot above ground but the second we reach that ridge I'll have to go higher. When we clear it, I'll go low again.'
Hermione ran suspicious eyes over him. He'd gone from angry and aggressive to a grabby brute, back to angry and now he was quiet? He was absolutely maddening.
Heart pounding, body flushing hot, she took a step towards the motorbike. Sirius turned the key and the roar of the engine caused her to jump midstep. Almost immediately, he pulled out his wand, silencing the bike.
Pale eyes scanned the woods and sky. His focus suddenly caught by something in the woods. Alert and stock still, she wondered how far he could see and if the darkness bothered him at all. When researching Animagi - so many years ago - she'd learnt that the longer a person shifted, the more likely it was that animalistic traits would transfer over to their human counterparts. These abilities weren't permanent but they lingered a good amount after the Animagi transformed.
That was most likely the case now. Sirius' eyes were certainly moving like he could see.
'I'll go low,' he said and she blinked.
Heat spread across her face when she realised she'd been staring at him. Nodding, she tried to swallow. Her mouth was unbelievably dry. She'd have a glass of water when she got home - she was stalling and she knew it.
Hermione reached for his shoulders, using them for leverage as she threw her leg over the bike. The vibration not altogether comfortable. It felt extremely weird to feel those bits moving like that. She'd heard it was lovely and she'd certainly heard many lewd jokes over it on the telly but as far as she was concerned she didn't like it.
Shifting to make herself comfortable, she wondered how this was supposed to be pleasant. Her sexual experience may have been limited to a handful of occasions with Ron but - her breath hitched and caught in her throat. Her eyes slammed shut as tears pooled behind her closed lids.
She wouldn't think of him. She wouldn't.
The bike stopped rumbling beneath her and Sirius craned his neck. He glowed blue and green, the sparkling light dancing in his eyes.
'Look,' he said. 'Unless you want to Apparate, we'll have to fly cos I am not going to have a House-Elf near me when I reek of Mottlewart.'
She moved off the motorbike, glaring. She didn't like his tone. It was too ... quiet? Understanding? Sympathetic? Pitying?
Either way she didn't like it. Her eyes became slits.
'What is your problem?!'
Sirius spluttered and his mouth fell open as he met her eyes. He shook his head, huffing a laugh as he ran his hand through his hair only to have his fringe settle over his eyes again.
Pretty bastard, said the voice in her head.
Sirius cleared his throat as he looked away, running his hand over his nose again. She hoped it was hay-fever.
'Get on the bike. We've got to get back to Godric's Hollow.'
She ran a hand down her face. The rosy and earthly scent of Mottlewart lingered. She felt so stupid. Weak. Idiotic. Borderline justified.
There was no reason at all to be this scared of flying. She'd ridden a bloody dragon for God's sake. A broomstick with Fiendfyre chasing behind as well. There was no reason for her to be this scared. She should've been more worried about being alone in the woods with Sirius.
You're just scared of the trip love, admit it.
I'm not Mum, I swear.
Of course you are. You'll be going off to that school to do magic of all things. Far away from home, where you'll have no one you know. It's alright to be scared love, but it's not okay to hide from it. If you want to get rid of your fears, you have to acknowledge them first.
She was scared.
Of being forced and made to move. Of where she might end up. Past experiences considered, her feelings weren't completely unfounded.
Her palms began to tingle but with a mental command the odd sensation quickly stopped.
'Have you ever flown before?'
She blinked and heat burned across the back of her neck. She'd been staring. Again.
The witch nodded.
'Alright well, it's not like a broomstick. This is actually a bit safer. I've put charms on it-,'
'-I don't care what it has, it's still dangerous.'
His nose flared. Grey eyes turned hard. 'Get on the damn bike.'
'No.'
'You sodding chil- Get on the fucking bike Granger.'
That's better, she thought. This Sirius she could deal with. This she knew how to handle.
'It's still dangerous to fly no matter how many bloody charms it has, nothing is safe when it's off the ground.'
'Nothing's safe on the ground either,' he spat.
She didn't have an answer to that. The Marauder ran his hands through his jet black hair again. 'I know this isn't what you're probably used to when it comes to flying but I doubt it's the worst.'
She snorted. He was definitely right on that one.
'What?'
The witch frowned at him. 'What?'
'What the hell is that little snort of yours supposed to mean? You think you're too fucking good to ride my bike? Too fucking precious for it?'
Her rose scented hands clenched into fists.
'Did I say that?'
Sirius sneered. 'No, you just fucking act like it! Nose always up in the air. Always talking like you fucking know everything. Acting all high and mighty every fucking day! Tell me Granger, does it get lonely up there on your pedestal?'
Hermione shrugged. 'Not exactly. Not when I have menservants like you to do my bidding.'
She saw his shoulder tense and a small thrill shot through her.
'The hell did you just call me?'
'You heard me.'
'I'm not your servant Granger. Get that into your fucking head.'
He wasn't her servant and they both knew it but it had clearly struck a nerve. Hermione smiled at him. He scowled before looking away.
'Its getting late and we have to go. What if I conjure you a silk cushion to place under your royal arse? Would that please your bitchiness?'
She shrugged again. She was being childish and impossible to deal with and she knew it. She didn't care. Venting all her frustrations at him felt too damn good. It was growing late though.
She moved towards the motorbike again and for the fourth time that night, put her arms around his torso and held onto Sirius Black as his scent flowed over her.
He smelt like shampoo, grass and cigarettes.
The bike started and with a sudden jerk and an involuntary squeal, they took off like a bullet.
In the blink of an eye, they were surrounded by dark woods, weaving between trees. His hair whipping across her face as hers flew behind along with her screams that caught in the wind and vanished.
Seconds later the woods were gone and they entered a field, plush with wild flowers that parted beneath the motorbike's speed. Hermione shut her eyes, screaming as she pressed herself into the Marauder's back.
Pressure around her pulling her back as Sirius propelled them forwards.
Then they were moving up. Hermione's eyes snapped open and another scream faded into the void as the wind circulating them attacked her from all sides.
Higher and higher they went as Sirius shot upwards into the sky with none of the grace gifted to roller coasters. Tree tops swayed as they passed. Birds flew beside them before plunging back down to their nests and then they were passing mountain peaks as the world shined with moonlight beneath them. In the distance, a river shimmered as the valley around them swayed in the breeze. A vast ocean of breathtaking dark green.
Sirius stopped the bike and they hovered amongst the stars, looking down on the Earth. She was clamped around him, her thighs were straining from the hold she had on the bike and her throat was burning from all her screaming ... but she had to admit the beauty before them was almost worth it.
For a second, in that very moment, she understood why he loved to fly.
It was peace and beauty that made you feel weightless. A smile pulled at her lips - but then he turned his head around to smirk at her. Her gut dropped the second she saw a horrid little glint in his eyes. He nodded into the distance with a sideways nod and her eyes grew wide the second she spotted grey clouds, heavy with rain, in the distance. She only had a second to hold on tighter when Sirius flew them through the cold and wet, swirling mass.
Teeth chattering, her skin wet with freezing water, his wet hair stinging her face - she clung to him until they broke through to the other side, a wisp of a cloud trailed behind them but which quickly evaporated.
Finally they cleared the mountain ridge and she very nearly cried, grateful that they'd be closer to ground once again. She should've known he wasn't going to make it so simple.
Sirius pushed forward and they plummeted into the ground, dropping several feet in a matter of seconds. A feat that she knew couldn't have been achieved by any natural means.
She screamed yet again as her chest flattened against him, his hair obscuring the rapidly approaching ground. She reached under his arms for his shoulders, digging her nails into his chest. Hermione felt him shift and suddenly they weren't vertical anymore but parallel to the grass that stung her bare shins.
A distant glow caught her eyes and her heart leapt in her throat. The lights of Godric's Hollow a welcomed sight. Determined to destroy whatever joy she'd had, the bastard gave the bike a final burst of speed and their surroundings became a blur of lines and colours as he weaved in and out whatever obstacles he saw with practised ease.
They jerked to a stop and she didn't think as she pushed herself off with shaky limbs, only to land on the familiar cobbled stone that made up the village's streets. She felt an overwhelming appreciation for it's stationary ways as she lay on her back, panting. Her chest heaving, her body gone limp unable to support her full weight.
A bark of laughter broke the silence around them and her eyes widened at the sound. So familiar and yet so foreign, the sound of it caused her chest to ache.
Hermione ran startled eyes over the Marauder and the ache sharpened.
He looked carefree. Lost in his amusement, unaware of the world around him. So unlike the man she had known, who'd grown bitter, angry and mistrustful of the world and everyone in it. His only happiness was his godson.
The laugh was the same. The cockiness and rudeness were still the same. As was the brash behaviour. Physically she could see the man she'd met during summer before her fifth year who, regardless of his years in Azkaban, had maintained his handsome looks.
That's where the similarities ended. Unlike Dumbledore, she couldn't relate the image of this Sirius who flew through clouds to the man who drank far too much.
Hermione didn't know Sirius Black.
He was a stranger she couldn't understand. So aggressive and angry - she couldn't claim to have known the Sirius Black of her own time all too well but she didn't remember ever seeing him act like this.
Not this volatile.
Recklessness of youth aside - this wasn't the man she'd known.
A pang of sympathy struck her then. She may have not liked him much in her youth and this younger version of him was even worse, but she saw the difference and her heart went out to him. He'd lose so much.
She swallowed thickly, blinking away tears.
It would all be for the best though.
The young witch licked her lips, brown eyes trained on his face, alight with joy. She sat up with shaky hands, eyes still trained on him.
'You're an arse.'
He laughed harder, nodding. 'Yeah.'
She stood on wobbly legs, her thighs burning, heart pounding in her ears.
'You said you wouldn't go fast.'
The Marauder shook his head. 'No I didn't. I said I wouldn't go high.' He smiled, 'Did you enjoy the ride Granger?'
'You made me wet,' she spat taking off her purse to check the Mottlewart. It was thankfully dry.
'Yeah, I have that effect.'
'You went too fast.'
He shrugged. 'I wanted you off of me as soon as possible.'
'I was not on you!'
He nodded, getting off his bike. 'I could feel your tits against my back.'
A violent blush spread across her cheeks and down her chest, her face red hot. 'They were not!'
'They were,' replied Sirius as he reached into his pocket, pulling out his cigarettes. 'Your nipples were stabbing me.'
Her mouth fell open but she snapped it shut the second he began to chuckle.
'Don't worry about it Granger, not everyone can handle a bit of danger. Some people are meant for the quiet life.' He nodded behind her. 'Run along now, Batty will fix you up.'
Hermione blinked and only then did she notice Sirius had dropped them off at her door. She shifted from one foot to another, desperate to get inside and dry off but reluctant to allow him the last word.
She sniffed. 'Your precious bike isn't as terrifying as you think Sirius.'
He exhaled and pinned her with a look. 'Take that back.'
'No, it's true. I don't care about whatever complex you have over it but your bike's not everything you think it is.'
'So you weren't screaming at the top of your lungs?'
'You think you know everything don't you?'
'And you don't?'
She glared at him. Not because of his snarky tone but because he was technically right. She did know too much simply because Dumbledore had refused to have her Obliviated and though she was grateful for the fact, Hermione had begun to wonder why. Unfortunately for her the only person who knew the answer to that was Dumbledore himself and she knew he wouldn't tell.
Cigarette smoke reached her and she batted it away. 'Can you put that out?'
Sirius inhaled, curious eyes running over her. 'Go on then Granger, if she's not the scariest flight you've had then what was?'
She almost didn't answer but his condescending smirk got to her. He was far too smug.
'A dragon.'
A loud snort was ripped from his throat before he began to laugh and she fought the urge to stomp away and slam the door. Instead she stood her ground and glared. Hard.
'A dragon?' he asked after he'd settled down, an odd chuckle escaping him every so often. 'Alright,' he said, a wide smile on his face. 'Why would you ride a flying dragon.'
Hermione bit down on the inside of her cheek as her annoyance grew. Her reply blurted out of her mouth.
'To rob a bank!'
Sirius laughed harder, cigarette forgotten as he clutched at his belly. She felt her lips curl at the sound. Her adrenaline rush threatening to morph into nervous laughter. She clamped her lips shut and without conscious thought, threw her purse at him. The idiot caught it.
'What is going on now?' said a sweet, feminine voice.
Sirius' laughter died away and she smiled as she turned to look at Batty.
'Everything's fine,' she answered, glaring at the Marauder. 'Sirius was just leaving.'
'Too bad - why are you soaking wet?'
'Because of him.'
'You asked for it,' spat Sirius, Batty momentarily forgotten.
'I did not! I wanted you to go slow and you know it!'
'You'd wanted to get off!'
She had but that was beside the point. A loud pop like a firework rang out behind them the second she opened her mouth to argue.
'That's enough - both of you!' hissed Batty. Green eyes moving to the Stevensons' door, 'The baby next door has colic, the last thing his mum needs is for you two idiots to disrupt her limited sleep.'
Her glare moved from him to her and back. 'So unless you want to have a go Sirius, I'd fuck off if I were you. Fabian is already here, told him to go look for you lot at the shop. Go find him and you, get inside.'
Sirius didn't hesitate to get on his bike and leave, the engine silent. Hermione watched him turn the corner before following Batty.
'Alright,' said the tiny witch as they reached the sitting room. 'What happened now?'
Hermione told Batty everything, beginning with Tony and Rosa's excellent news to the moment where she'd shown up, careful to omit the bit about dragons. For her part, Batty listened to her rant about bloody motorbikes and stupid men. When she was finally done, Hermione turned to the tiny witch and waited for the older woman's judgement.
Soft green eyes met her own. 'And now you're dripping wet cos he was going too fast, trying to get you off when all you wanted was for him to slow down? But the prick didn't listen cos he was too busy making you scream?'
'Yes!'
'That bastard.'
Hermione nodded, completely in agreement. Batty coughed and turned away, her hand covering her mouth, body shaking with what she assumed was a hacking cough.
'I sent Hooky away on the excuse that he should visit his friends at Hogwarts. I reckon he'll get back any second now. Go wash love, you reek of Mottlewart.'
She doesn't know how long she'd been in the shower. With the cool water running over her and the scents of Batty's home-made soaps and shampoos, time slipped away from her. Teeth brushed, lotioned up, pajamas on, hair combed - she found comfort in the repetition of these acts and no thoughts plagued her mind. No sooner had she pulled back her duvet, than a jet of blue-white light shoot through her door. Hermione ducked behind her chair, arm and hand outstretched, holding a wand that did not exist.
The stream of light shifted and took shape into the form of a giant and all too familiar dog. Hermione released a breath she'd not known she was holding as her shoulders dropped.
'Come downstairs, I have something of yours,' it said before disappearing.
The brunette slumped against the wall beside her tiny desk, relief surging through her. Though she didn't care to be summoned, her curiosity was peaked and so she made her way downstairs.
She found him in the sitting room, besides one of Batty's bookshelves, reading a book with a small smile pulling at his lips. She knew immediately what the something of yours was and she mentally kicked herself.
Sirius had her purse. He was carrying it in fact and she took a second to wonder how it was possible that he could pull off such a thing and still ooze masculinity. He looked up and immediately set the book down. The Marauder reached for the strap which crossed over his right shoulder and down to his left hip.
She caught it the second he threw it to her.
'I was halfway home when I realised I had your purse with me and I wasn't sure if you had the port-key in it or not...?'
Hermione shook her head, both surprised and suspicious of his intentions.
'I don't. I always carry it in a pocket.' Or bra.
'Right.' He nodded. 'Had to make sure. Batty let me in and headed to bed.' He gestured to her purse, 'I swear I didn't look at your shit, but I stopped at Tony's before I came. Accio'd out the mushrooms and left them hanging on your corner where you dry out your herbs and things. Didn't fancy coming back and risking the chance of Hooky molesting me.'
The witch nodded slowly, more than a bit confused. 'Yeah - no ... I get that.'
'I'll be going then, just wanted to make sure you got your purse. I used Tergeo on it but I'd still wash it if I were you.'
Hermione blinked. Why was he being so casual and nice?
What's he playing at?
Sirius nodded once, the very smile she'd found him with back on his face. Dancing eyes moved towards the opened book and back to meet her own. He raised an eyebrow at her before making his way towards the back garden, the chrome of his bike catching the light. In a matter of seconds he was gone and she was left standing in the room clutching at her purse wondering what the hell was going on.
She moved towards the book and lifted it. It was a book of herbs, opened to a page with a very detailed drawing of Mottlewart. She huffed a laugh the second she read the description.
Mottlewart is an unique fungi indigenous to the British Isles. Grown best in soil rich with pixie droppings, this type of fungi is often mischaracterised on account of it's shape shifting abilities and floral scent. Mottlewartius Daervica is not of the Morphious variety, nor is it Floral. It is of the Luminescent species...
They'd both been wrong.
Hermione shook her head, the corner of her lip twitching.
Bastard.