"Hermione, you look ghastly!"

That morning Harry and Ron had flooed to Grimmuald place to find Hermione in the library wrapped in a conjured blanket engulfed in a book. She'd woken up at the start of a nightmare and hadn't been able to go back to sleep, in hopes of letting Sirius sleep she retreated to the library to get lost in a book. When they found her they told her that Kingsley had called for a meeting with the Auror's looking for Dolohov and they invited her to join since she seemed the target of his attention. She'd quickly accepted and after leaving a note for Sirius she headed for the ministry. The meeting ended up running into the afternoon so when the trio entered the kitchen everyone was already eating.

"Gee thanks George, ever the charmer" smirking as his ears turn pink at her remark.

"Sorry love, I didn't mean it like that. You just look exhausted."

Hearing the observation a few of the others at the table nodded in agreement, she took her seat next to Sirius who held Teddy sitting on his lap. Plastering a smile she took the young boy from his arms putting him on her lap as Sirius passed her his tiny plate and kissed her temple. Picking at her own food she smiled at the young boy in her arms as he recounted his attempt to help de-gnome the yard with the others. She did her best to try and ignore the stares from a few people around the table, instead lightly leaning back into Sirius's hand.

"Mione?"

"I'm sorry what?"

"I said I have some dreamless sleep potion if you want it."

"No no that's alright thank you." She replied quickly, everyone but Sirius missing the tension in her voice at the offer of the potion.

Lunch passed in a blur for Hermione and before she knew what had happened it was already dusk and almost everyone was in the living room. She was sitting in the oversized chair by the fire surrounded by her family while Teddy slept in her lap. At some point in the evening someone offered her a cup of tea which she gladly excepted without noticing who it was from.

Seeing Hermione peacefully asleep with Teddy in her arms, Harry transfigured her chair into a bed. Before joining the rest of the family, who had returned to the kitchen once more, he conjured a blanket to tucked her in and planted a kiss on her forehead with a quiet, "Rest up Mione." Grabbing her fallen tea cup he let her continue to drift into what he hoped was a peaceful sleep.

"We didn't steal it! It came to us!"

"You lying little mudblood! What else did you take?"

"Nothing!"

"Crucio!"

A scream filled the house causing everyone to freeze. Everyone but Tonks who was already running outside to get Remus and Sirius from the garden and Harry who had already burst into the living room in search of Hermione, his wand raised. He froze momentatily at the sight before him. Hermione was flailing against the bed, though only her midsection seemed to be moving as if her arms and legs were being held down. Teddy was white as a sheet, curled up at the corner of the mattress crying for his Aunt Mini. He rushed over picking up Teddy and passing him to whomever was on his left before going over to try and wake Hermione, saying her name over and over.

"NO WE HAVEN'T STOLEN ANYTHING!"

Harry froze and looked up rigidly at Ron who looked sick. Hearing another scream rip from her mouth he noticed her "mudblood" scar on her arm was an angry red and the tip of the 'm' starting to bleed as if the word is being re-carved into her arm. Frantically he continued to shake her almost violently trying to get her to wake.

Minutes Earlier

As everyone moved to the living room Sirius and Remus excused themselves and made their way outside. The full moon was in 4 days and Remus was starting to get anxious, knowing that being in the moons presence helped Sirius had dragged him outside for a walk.

They walked in silence for a bit until Remus spoke up, "Hermione looks bad mate."

"It's her nightmares. Ever since Dolohov sent her that package they've been getting more frequent."

"That explains why you look so tired too. Why won't she take any potions?"

He hesitated before answering, "They don't work for her-"

"Remus! Sirius!"

Spinning around instantly at the panic in her voice, they rushing to Tonks whose her normally pink hair and alarmingly pale white.

"Dora? What is it?"

A scream pierced the air making Sirius' blood run cold and he took off towards the burrow no longer needing to hear his cousins answer. Bursting through the door he hastly made his way through the throng of Weasleys surrounding Hermione taking in the scene before him in an instant.

"HERMIONE" Harry tried yelling over her screams, shaking her to no avail.

"Move. Harry MOVE!" he barked at his godson who immediately moved to allow his godfather to grab Hermione. Much to everyone's surprise he didn't continue shaking her as Harry had. Instead he moved in behind her, cradling her to him with one hand while thrusting his other into her curls bringing her face into his neck with his mouth right by her ear. As she continued to scream and shake reliving her torture, he began to whisper to her.

"Kitten. Wake up. Come back. You're safe. I won't let anything happen to you. Kitten, come on my love, wake up. I've got you. No one will ever hurt you like this again. Not with me around."

He continued to coo to her repeatedly while everyone watched in amazement as Hermione's screams slowly stopped, her shaking calming to a light tremble an he continued to whisper to Hermione until her screams ceased completely. She continued to shiver but she curled herself into a tight ball in his lap, crying silently into his chest saying his name over and over, still asleep, ignorant to those around them. Looking up he saw that Harry was holding a crying Ginny, Bill holding Fleur. Remus' eyes were gold and he had his arm around Tonks who was now sporting her regular pink hair and a holding back a crying Teddy who was calling for his "Aunt Mini". Ron looked ashen standing next fiancée, father and brother. Molly was holding James with a stricken look on her face.

"Who did it?" he growled, the roughness of his voice causing several people to flinch.

"What do you mean Sirius?" questioned Remus, looking at his best mate with confusion.

"Who slipped her the potion?" again sounding almost feral. Everyone was quiet and it only made him more upset.

"WHO-" stopping short only when Hermione whimpered into his chest.

"I did."

Everyone turned to Ron, who despite his coloring had his chest puffed out as if ready for an attack.

"Why?"

"Because she obviously hasn't been sleeping!" he shot back at the man.

"It is not your job to take care of her, pup. You have done more damage than anything else! Did you ever wonder why she always politely declining the damned potion? You stupid boy!"

"Sirius..."

"Why did she react that way to the potion?" Ginny asked.

Looking down and gently untangling his witch's arm from her body, he silently nodded to Tonks who was already passing Teddy to Remus and going to grab a med kit from the kitchen. Signing heavily he looked to Ginny. "She has residual dark magic in her arm from the blade Bellatrix used. That dark magic fights the affects of certain potions like a dreamless sleep potion and it instead intensifies her dreams. So much that she essentially relives everything not just in her head but also physically. She doesn't wake up like she normally would because of the dark magic keeps her locked in her mind."

No one asked anything else while Tonks wrapped Hermione's arm. When she was done Hermione cradled her arm back between her and Sirius, still asleep. The entire time Sirius had continued to cradle her into him rocking her slightly.

"How could you pull her out of it when I couldn't?" Harry asked.

"Pup, I'm with her every night, I know what she needs in these moments." Blushing Harry nodded, "I'm going to take her home now."

As he stood, still looking at his witch, everyone began to move and give them space to move to the floo. Except for Ron who moved to block their path.

"You can't take her!"

"And why not?" Sirius sneered.

"Someone needs to take care of her and clearly you haven't been doing a good job!"

Snapping his head up to glare at the wizard before him, making Ron flinch once more, "She is mine to protect! You did this to her and I am taking her home where she can sleep off the rest of what you have inflicted on her."

"YOURS?" Ron bellowed causing Hermione to once again flinch and Sirius to growl in his direction.

"That is enough Ronald! Sirius take her home, keep her safe. We'll be over in the morning to check on her." Everyone looked in shock at Molly as she approached Sirius ushering him to the floo.

"Not him" he growled "not until she can decide for herself whether she wants him there."

"Oi! You can't-"

"Ronald Weasley! You stop this right now!"

Harry grabbed the floo powder. "We'll be over in the morning Sirius, take care of her," was all he said because throwing down the powder calling out 12 Grimmuald Place for his godfather.

Stepping gracefully out of the fireplace in the sitting room, he readjusted Hermione to his chest and started up the stairs taking her directly into their room. He laid her down on her side before reluctantly letting her go. With a quick charm he had her dressed in her pajamas and he swiftly undressed and put on his own black pajama bottoms before slipping into the sheets with her. As soon as he touched the bed Hermione was latched onto his side and he wasted no time wrapping his arms around her, caging her in his embrace willing her nightmares to leave her.

Hermione woke feeling a dull ache in her arm, grasping her arm to rub away the feeling she noticed the bandage and immediately understood what happened. She couldn't remember much from the night before which only confirmed her theory. Sitting up she heard the shower and found a teacup on the bed side table. She downed the contents so quickly she barely tasted it before getting up and going to join Sirius in the shower.

After she stripped bare she stood in front of the mirror and carefully took off the bandage on her forearm. Her scar was an angry red and felt raw. Shaking her head she stepped into the shower she wound her arms around Sirius's waist.

"You should be in bed Kitten."

"I've slept enough. What happened last night?" She smiled into his back when she felt the his growl radiate into her arms and chest.

"The Weasley boy slipped you a potion because he felt the need to help you."

"Of course he did, he used to do that when my cries would wake him. Then he'd use a silencing charm so he could sleep without interruption."

Picking her arm up off his abdomen, he examined it running his fingertips lightly over it. "It looks much better than last night, Dora fixed you up."

"Everyone saw I take it?"

"I'm sorry Kitten." Turning around he grabbed her and pulled her under the stream of water with him. "They want to come over today. But I'm not letting that boy into this house without your say so."

"When are they going to be here?"

"Molly is actually in the kitchen making breakfast. She showed up an hour ago."

Chuckling she leaned, arching her back in his arms and put her head back into the water. "Of course she is, which means the others will be here shortly."

"Not too soon I hope," he smirked as he bit the sensitive spot on her shoulder earning him a throaty moan. Lightly pushing her against the shower wall Sirius trailed kisses down her body before settling on his knees in front of her. After giving equal attention to her scars he began to focus on her core, lightly swiping his tongue between her delicate folds. In response she raised he leg, setting it on his shoulder giving him better access as he pinned her to the wall with his forearm across her hips. He continued until he felt her start to quake under his hold and swiftly inserted a finger into her. Moaning she threaded her fingers into his hair she ground her pelvis into his face with renewed enthusiasm reveling in the feel of his beard and tongue on her clit. Smirking into her he lightly nibbled on her clit forcing a scream of pleasure from her throat as she came against his tongue. Standing up he kissed her deeply, thrusting his tongue into her mouth so she could taste her herself.

Unable to control herself Hermione snaked her arms around his neck in a vice like grip before lifting a leg and guiding him into her. Groaning at her sudden attack Sirius wasted no time pulling her up completely and rocking into her like a piston over and over again. When she called his name and he felt her tighten around him he could no longer hold out, spilling into her as he let his head fall to her shoulder.

There they stayed for what felt like hours until they caught their breath and he set her on her own feet. Kissing her again he reached for the soap and lathered it into her hair.

Hermione dressed in black leggings and one of Sirius's sweaters that touched the top of her thighs, hastily drying her hair she spun it into a bun and put her wand in it for safe keeping before going down to meet everyone who had congregated in their kitchen. Per her request Sirius went down ahead of her allowing her a moment to pull herself together so she could face her family. Just outside the kitchen doorway she stopped and had to she pull on her Gryffindor courage to bring herself to enter the room.

"Good morning," she said in a light voice. Approaching Molly she gave her a quick hug, "Thank you for making breakfast."

"It's my pleasure dear, you know I love it. How are you feeling?"

"I'm alright. Do you need help with anything?"

"No! You go sit, I'm almost done."

Smiling she gave the woman a quick kiss on the cheek and turned to see only Arthur, Harry, Ginny and George at the table. Sirius passed her a mug with a wink as she sat down next to him. After her first sip she relaxed with a subtle "mhmm" earning her a grin from Sirius, "Where are Remus and Tonks?"

"They're on their way. Moony said they needed to grab something on their way over."

"Mione, why didn't you tell us?"

Turning to Harry she gave him a sad smile. "You wouldn't have been able to do anything and it would have only made you worry."

Harry slammed his fist on the table, "Damn it Hermione!"

"Harry we all had our own problems after the war, I couldn't burden you with mine."

"We have always taken care of one another! You should have told me!"

"It took months for you to start acting like a normal human being again. You were carrying so much guilt, I couldn't forgive myself if I added to it. What could you have done if you'd known? Nothing."

"But Mione, your scars..."

Lifting up her sleeve she showed him her arm, "I'm fine. Just a little tenderness." He reached out and grabbed her forearm, tracing his fingers lightly in the air above the scar tissue.

"I never wanted to hear you scream like that again," he shivered. Hermione paled at his words They heard. "Yes, we could hear you, even from the dungeons. We tried so hard to get to you and we couldn't...seeing you on the floor...I was so terrified we'd lost you, you were barely moving. I have never been able to completely forgive Ron for-"

"Harry don't," she hushed.

"Wait what about Ron? What did he do?" George broke in.

"It's nothing please forget it."

Ginny looked at her husband with growing impatience, "Harry what happened?" Harry looked at her and she shook her head furiously, "Don't."

Ignoring her he turned to his wife, "When we were on the run we all got into a fight and Ron said his name when the taboo was active. Snatchers were on us in seconds. He's the reason we were captured," Harry bit out. The cup Sirius was holding broke and Hermione snatched her hand out of Harry's hold and stood up.

"Harry!"

"What Hermione?"

"We swore!"

"Why should we keep his secret? He should feel guilty. That," he pointed at her arm, "would never have happened if he hadn't said his name!"

Molly came to stand by Hermione, grasping shoulders she turned her to face her. "Hermione...is that true?"

Hermione couldn't look her in the eye so she merely nodded. Molly immediately pulled her into a bone crushing hug. Sirius had heard enough, he abruptly stood from the table and left the room. Sighing Hermione left Molly's hold and looked to Harry, "You shouldn't have said anything." Harry looked downcast at his own mug and shook his head. "It was war, things happened. We all made mistakes. It is not fair to hold it against him. This conversation never happened. Understood?" Accepting nods she started to move from the room, "I'll be right back."

She found him in the old nursery they'd set up for James, sitting by the window with the infant in his arms. Seeing him there made her chest ache but she didn't want to think about that now.

"Sirius."

"How can you stand to be around him, let alone date him for 5 years?" he ground out, voice rough with anger.

"I never blamed him for what happened at the manor."

"You should."

"Maybe but I don't. No more then I blame Harry for getting hit by Dolohov's curse in 5th year or for anything that happened during the war as I followed him."

Standing from his spot at the window, Sirius gently placed James back in his crib. "You could have died."

"We all could have, you did. Sirius, it was war. Let me see your hand."

"It's fine."

"No let me see it," pulling his hand into hers she unwrapped his makeshift bandage and felt around for her wand, forgetting it was in her hair. "Come on, I need to get my wand." Producing his own he offered it to her and she stilled. "Are you sure? Sharing a wand is an...intimate thing?"

"More intimate then what we did earlier?" he chuckled.

"Most married couples don't even share wands," she whispered staring at his wand.

He pressed his wand into her hand and raised her chin to meet his, "Love, you are welcome to my wand anytime you need it." Testing the wand in her hand she felt it yield to her and a smile crept onto her face as she healed his hand. Passing his wand back to him she pulled his now healed hand to her mouth and kissed his palm. "I want to disfigure that boy for what happened to you."

"That's not necessary. He punished himself enough for it after the war."

"I hate that I missed all of this. That I couldn't be there for you."

"You're here now, that's all that matters."

Taking her into his arms his molten grey eyes met golden whiskey orbs, "I will always be here, you don't have to go through anything alone again." Reaching up she briefly closed the distance between them.

"Lets go have breakfast, yeah?" she breathed against his mouth, "I'm starving." Sirius chuckled as he escorted her out of the room.