A/N: New chapter time! This one is a little shorter than my others, but I hope you like it!
Chapter 9
Sirius had been sitting at Hermione's bedside for weeks, October had snuck up on him quickly and Halloween was fast approaching. Yet, still, Hermione did not wake. Sirius had watched Madame Pomfrey rebandage her arm every day, that was until Lily suggested trying muggle stitches to close it. All the Marauders had now seen the word on her arm, James had gagged, and his eyes had hardened, Remus had growled, and his eyes had flashed amber, while Peter had run from the room to expel his stomach. James had tried to protect Lily from seeing it, however she had seen around him and burst into tears before suggesting the stitches after learning that it would not heal.
Sirius had even been at her side during the night and had watched Regulus and Barty sneak in in the dead of night. He had kept his eyes closed and pretended to sleep so as not to disturb them or embarrass them. Barty had fallen over her on the bed and pulled her small hands into his, sobbing that he was so sorry for causing her pain. Sorry for abandoning her. Sorry for committing acts that made him hate himself and wish he were dead. Regulus had comforted him and told him that Hermione would always forgive him if he truly felt remorse, she was the most forgiving person they knew. Barty had promised her in a quiet whisper that he would always protect her from his side and if it came down to it, her life was worth more than his.
Sirius had wanted to speak up, tell Barty that Hermione would disagree wholeheartedly, but he knew it wasn't his place. Their friendship was as powerful as his friendship with the Marauders, the only difference was they had a hardship he and his friends didn't need to endure.
Professor McGonagall also continued to visit every morning. Sirius and she would sit together in silence just watching over Hermione and silently begging she would wake. Auror Moody also came to visit once, which surprised Sirius, he knew he had been looking for her but how Moody treated her, it was obvious he had come to care for her personally. It was like watching an uncle speak to his niece, asking her to wake up so she could continue to drive him batty with her wit and attitude. Even Dumbledore had come in to try and see her while Moody was there, and Sirius got to witness the cold tone which both McGonagall and Moody used with Dumbledore. He wasn't sure what Dumbledore had done to cause them to treat him so coldly, but they did not like him around Hermione and Sirius was determined to find out why. He had James reach out to his father and ask, however the man replied that it was a discussion at the Manor and not over owl. This caused Sirius' suspicions and doubts for the headmaster to grow, why would James' father refuse to say something in a letter, unless their letters were watched? Who would care to read students mail?
The only positive Sirius could see happening around him was that Lily was warming up to James. Seeing him so subdued, watching him console and comfort Sirius as a brother, having him try and protect her from seeing the word on Hermione, had Lily reconsider her opinion on James Potter. She had learned that he was not as arrogant and cruel as she thought he was back in first year. He only hexed after the fact, he only ever retaliated and if he did initiate it would be a harmless prank. While in the past the Marauders pranks had angered her, seeing the lack of pranks and the condition of Hermione after experiencing the dangers of the outside world had Lily change her priorities. The pranks in the past had all been to lighten the mood, brighten the darkness of the Marauders world. Spending time with the Marauders every day, gave Lily insight to their personalities more and she realized she had gotten them all wrong. She had been presumptuous and too prideful to admit she was wrong about them, about James.
On Halloween Sirius was sitting once again at Hermione's bedside, reminiscing about a prank he pulled on James' house elves during the summer, and how Pipsy had turned his hair blue in retaliation. With elf magic he had been unable to reverse it until he had apologized to the elves and promised to never prank them again. He was ready to start his next story when he felt her hand twitch in his, another Crucio seizure he assumed, ready to hold her hand through it. She had one every day, which had improved significantly from the ones she had every two hours. He looked up at her and noticed that her head was moving slightly from side to side and her eyes were fluttering, as if she was waking from a deep sleep.
This was new, his throat ran dry as he noticed that her breathing had escalated but was shallow and raspy. It sounded like she couldn't expand her lungs enough. He tried to say her name again, but it was coming out like a whisper, he had to find his voice or go and get Pomfrey, but he was stuck.
He startled when she suddenly took a deep gasping gulp of air, her eyes shot open, and she sat up clutching her throat as if someone had been clutching her throat. Sirius stared at her, she was sitting up, she was awake.
"Hermione?" he tried, the shock wearing off enough that he could finally communicate.
"Sirius?" her big, caramel brown eyes turned to him, a look of absolute desperation in them. Before he could even open his mouth, she fell into his arms and burst out crying. He was so shocked, he had been holding her hand for weeks, had been by her side, but now she was holding onto him like he would disappear, like he was her lifeline.
Before this he had just been the annoying older Black brother that annoyed her, but when she woke up, she said his name, she called him Sirius, not Black. Also, he wasn't sure if he imagined it, but there was almost a look of relief, of happiness that he was there.
He wasn't Regulus, why would she be happy about him being there? Sirius didn't understand it, but he wouldn't question it, if she wanted to have him comfort her, he would do it until she no longer wanted him.
"Shh, Hermione, it's okay, I'm here," he whispered, his arms holding her to him tightly, his face buried into her neck, inhaling the scent of her hair. He was thankful that Pomfrey had maintained cleaning charms because she smelled incredible, like lavender on a refreshing, clear day, a sweet, yet rich and warm scent that made him feel comforted.
Hermione sobbed into his arms, clutching him, and breathing in his familiar scent of sandalwood, leather, and smoke. He smelled exactly like how Hermione Granger remembered. Hermione McCallister cried for the life she was given in this world, she cried for Granger's Harry, for the life he was handed, she cried for Regulus and Barty, both with futures filled with despair and death, for Sirius who would be wrongfully imprisoned, only to find freedom in another cage before death found him, for Remus that lost all of his friends, for Lily and James that would only have a love that was experienced on the physical plane for a few years before death came once more.
Death. That was all that was ahead for everyone in her life. Granger watched so much death, McCallister would not allow that to happen.
She took Harry's place to give him a better life, to protect him from the pain of Granger's future. Hermione McCallister vowed that she would not fail Harry, she would ensure his parents survived, Sirius never went to prison, and Voldemort was defeated.
Holding onto Sirius while she vowed this reaffirmed his requirement to survive in her mind. While she remembered him as both McCallister and Granger, she knew that this boy – soon to be a man – deserved a full life. He didn't remember Granger, he had no knowledge of any of it, yet here he was. He was comforting Hermione McCallister as if he knew her just as well as Hermione Granger.
'This is going to take time to get used to', Hermione thought to herself. Before she had gone home and gone through her time at whatever Manor she was in, she had determined that she fancied Sirius. She had grown very fond of the playful, energetic, and undoubtedly attractive boy, however, now with Granger's memories, that attraction had only grown exponentially. Holding him confirmed this, she felt safe and comfortable in his arms, his scent surrounding her and making her feel at home.
This realization, however, forced her to let go of him and pull back. She couldn't act too familiar with him; he didn't know her the way she knew him. She knew too much, things she should never know, like that he was a dog animagus for example.
"Sorry," she whispered as she pulled back. Her voice cracked from the lack of use and crying against him. Sirius stared down at the girl with wide eyes, how could she be apologizing to him?
"Don't apologize, you have no reason to," Sirius whispered, he didn't want to speak too loudly around her yet, she had been asleep for so long. "I'm going to go and get Pomfrey, okay?" he said reluctantly. He didn't want to leave her, but she needed to be checked over, the mediwitch needed to be aware Hermione was awake.
Hermione nodded slowly and watched as Sirius stood up and walked away. When he left the curtained space, she took note of her injuries. She had lost weight, that much was certain, her arm was bandaged and if she had to harbour a guess, she would say Bellatrix of this time used the exact same knife that Granger had been tortured under. Meaning her scar was permanent.
'Well, at least I still have less scars that Granger, and even Harry,' Hermione thought to herself.
Granger had that large dissecting scar down her torso from Dolohov, the blood quill markings from her fifth-year signifying 'I will listen to my betters', and the MUDBLOOD from her Bellatrix. Harry had his obvious lightening bolt scar, one from the Basilisk fang, his shoulder had one from the Hungarian Horntail, his forearm from Pettigrew resurrecting Voldemort, 'I must not tell lies' from Umbridge, and the fang marks from Nagini.
Hermione was brushing her fingertips along the bandage on her arm when Sirius returned with Pomfrey.
"Oh, my dear, you are awake!" Madame Pomfrey said with shock. Sirius had told her the girl was awake, the shock in his own face should have told her the truth, but she just couldn't believe it. She honestly believed the girl would never wake, she had been trying to find the courage to let Sirius and McGonagall know her prognosis.
"Hello," Hermione said awkwardly. Granger had been in this place dozens of times, for both herself and Harry, even Ron on a few occasions, but she never had been. Her knee-jerk reaction was to speak to Pomfrey like Granger did, with familiarity, but she had to stop herself, McCallister had never spoken to the mediwitch in her life.
"How are you feeling dear?" she asked, pulling her wand out and casting diagnostic charms.
"Okay," whispered Hermione. What was she supposed to say exactly? She wasn't in any pain, not physically, her head was spinning though. Maybe her arm hurt, but she couldn't even concentrate on that. She had an entire life to think about, a future to plan, a wizard to end.
"Mr. Black, I must ask you to leave so I may have some privacy with my patient," Pomfrey said to Sirius sternly. The wizard huffed and walked out of the space, glancing at Hermione, and giving her a reassuring smile that he was just outside. "Now, please be honest with me Miss McCallister, how are you feeling?"
"Confused," Hermione replied instantly, "Why am I at school, it only just let out a few weeks ago." Pomfrey gave her a sad look.
"Dear, it is Halloween. Do you remember anything from after school?" the mediwitch asked delicately.
"I remember, I just, it's Halloween?" Hermione asked quietly, months, she was missing months!
"Yes, you came here in July, you have been in a coma," Pomfrey said. She was relieved to see the diagnostics were clear, Hermione was completely healthy, minus the healing scar and evident mental trauma.
"Oh," was all Hermione could reply. What else could she say?
"I'm going to go and inform Professor McGonagall that you are awake, as well as Alastor Moody. Are you well enough for visitors?"
"Yes, that's fine," Hermione replied, sitting back in her bed. She didn't expect anyone to want to see her, as much as Granger had people that cared for her, McCallister didn't. Not anymore.
Madame Pomfrey left and before she had disappeared, Sirius was barrelling into the room again. This still confused her, why was he here? Not that she wasn't happy, she was ecstatic he was here, Granger had loved him as family, while she had less than familial feelings for him.
"Hi," he said as he sat beside her. He appeared just as unsure as she did, she was used to exuberant and cocky Sirius, this was unnerving seeing a shy and quiet Sirius.
"Um, hi," she replied, "Um, not to be rude or anything, but um, why are you at my bedside?" Sirius let out an awkward laugh at her boldness.
"Just out and say it do you, McCallister? Truly surprises me that you aren't in Gryffindor," he said. McCallister would have been affronted at such a comment in the past, but with Granger in her head now, she felt a rush of pride. He wasn't sure what to say to her, he usually knew exactly what to say to girls, but she was so different. And this, this was a delicate situation. He had sat by her side every single day hoping she would wake, but not once did he think about what he would say after she woke. "You see McCallister-" he started but he was interrupted by a throat clearing.
Both occupants looked over to the door and saw Albus Dumbledore standing there. Sirius cocked his head to the side as he looked at the headmaster curiously, he had not once visited Hermione while she was unconscious, and he remembered everything his brother told him. He wasn't sure about Dumbledore, but he didn't distrust him.
Hermione on the other hand, did not trust the elder wizard one bit. While as McCallister she had little to no interaction with the headmaster, Granger had plenty of thoughts on the man. He had let Harry live with abusive family, had moulded him into a wizard that listened to him without question, given them barely any clues for the hunt he sent them on. During her time with Harry in the forest, reading over Skeeter's book, Hermione had thought a lot about the previous years and the part Dumbledore played.
Dumbledore had run the Order, yet the Order hadn't done anything, all they did was guard an artefact that none of them could remove. It had been Harry, herself, Ron, and some of their friends joining them to fight, the adults only ever reacted, they never just acted, and that was because of Dumbledore. In the first war, this war, he had sent Remus away thus creating the rift between the Marauders, leading o Pettigrew being chosen as secret keeper. There was no way he didn't know about the switch; Hermione would give up her magic if Dumbledore had been unaware Sirius was innocent. Yet, he had let Sirius rot in Azkaban, and then he had sent Sirius to live in the nightmare house of his childhood. He had publicly stepped forward for Snape, a proven Death Eater, with a Mark and all, yet had not fought for a trial for Sirius. Not only that, but Hermione had realized during the Hunt that the man had groomed Harry to what he wanted. She had realized her best friend was a horcrux and Dumbledore had known yet given no clues on how to destroy them or save Harry, she was sure he had led Harry like a pig to slaughter. She was glad she had died before she had to witness Harry give his life to destroy the Horcrux.
Hermione didn't trust Dumbledore; he had his own priorities and plans that came first with no consideration of the people he was using.
"Ah, Miss McCallister, welcome back to the land of the living," Dumbledore said jovially, his constant twinkle in his eye. Hermione could scoff at the man, she could almost guarantee that he didn't once care about her until she awoke, she hadn't been useful before now. She had raised her Occlumency shields that she learned over the years, adding the extra protection that Granger's memories provided, the moment Dumbledore had drawn attention to himself. She could see his eyebrows raise slightly, the only indication that he was aware of her shields and had tried to gain access to her mind.
"Hello, headmaster," she spoke politely, she had only just woken and was becoming overwhelmed at all the visitors she had had already. She still didn't understand why Sirius was here.
"Mr. Black, is it possible for me to speak to Miss McCallister alone?" Dumbledore asked kindly, Sirius was about to move when Hermione snatched his hand tightly.
"I would prefer he stays," she said coolly. Sirius looked at Hermione in surprise, at both her tone towards the headmaster and that she wanted him to stay. She was grasping him so tightly, he thought he would lose circulation in his hand, he nodded slightly to her, letting her know he would stay. She loosened her grip slightly but did not let go.
"Are you sure, I will be asking personal questions," asked Dumbledore, his eyebrows furrowed slightly. He did not expect the witch to be so abrasive towards him, they had not interacted in the past, but she spoke to him like she was wary of him. He had never been treated like this by anyone except Slytherin families, children of Death Eaters, as leader of the light, all Muggleborns, Blood Traitors, and Half bloods, were supposed to look to him like a champion and protector of the light.
"You may ask, does not mean I will answer," responded Hermione.
"Hermione, oh dear you're awake!" came the cheerful voice of Professor McGonagall. Hermione looked up and saw the older witch looking from the entrance with a large smile and tears shining in her eyes, the smile disappeared immediately after spotting the headmaster though.
"Albus!" she hissed, "What are you doing here?"
"I was just checking on Miss McCallister, Minerva, as headmaster-"
"Yes, as headmaster you should be doing many things," McGonagall said bitterly, "Alastor will be here any moment," she said to Dumbledore, as if it was a warning, before turning to Hermione. "Oh Hermione, I am so happy you are awake!"
Professor McGonagall dropped all teacher student professionalism and pulled Hermione into a hug. The younger witch was stunned, she had received two hugs in one day, from two of the least expected people in this lifetime. The Granger side of her understood, the McCallister side did not. Hermione knew she had to settle her two sides, merge them into one, but she hadn't been given a moment to think with all these visitors.
"Hello, Professor," Hermione smiled towards the elder witch.
Even as McCallister she respected McGonagall, although Granger was affronted at not referring to her as Professor McGonagall, even in her head. This witch had done something for her that she had not done for Harry, although Hermione was sure that was Dumbledore's doing, McGonagall had gotten her out of her abusive home. In the future, Dumbledore had built and maintained a closer, almost inappropriate relationship, with Harry as headmaster. He had become a mentor and a grandfatherly figure, building trust, and referring to his care of Harry as love, Hermione scoffed, the man had never loved Harry. Hermione was sure that Dumbledore had prevented McGonagall providing help to Harry, the help McGonagall gave her was not extended to Harry because he was the prophecy child while Hermione was just a random student at Hogwarts.
"My dear, you gave us such a fright. Alastor will be so happy to see you awake, he shall be here shortly. Also, I will have to let Tom know, he has been in tatters since you left the Inn," McGonagall spoke softly as she sat on the edge of Hermione's bed, reaching for hand and holding it gently. Dumbledore cleared his throat again, but McGonagall ignored him, grasping Hermione's hand a little tighter. This just built Hermione's suspicions that Dumbledore was untrustworthy. It was surprising to her though, in Granger's future McGonagall had always stood by Dumbledore and never been blatant of her distrust, if she had had any.
McGonagall's words also surprised her, Moody and Tom had missed her? More people than her and Sirius had worried about her? McGonagall must have seen the confusion on her face, and somehow understood how the young girl was feeling.
"My girl, many people have worried for you. Tom was frantic when he reported to us that you never returned, Alastor has worked on nothing else, and I can say that I have not slept well in months. What did I tell you back in the summer I collected you? You may not be, but I will treat you as such," McGonagall said softly. She did not say daughter in front of Albus, but the slight widening of Hermione's eyes and spark of joy and hope in her eyes told McGonagall that she understood exactly what she meant.
"Aye girly, told ya the same thing, didn't I?" a gruff voice came from the door.
Alastor Moody had arrived.
Sirius Black was in the corner, completely ignored by everyone in the room. He wasn't complaining, he had Hermione's hand still in his, he was rubbing soothing circles over her knuckles with his thumb, watching the interactions in front of him. He had been surprised at Hermione's attitude towards the headmaster, but what had surprised him more was McGonagall's hostility to the man. Then his transfiguration professor's softness and gentleness speaking to Hermione, it was as if a mother speaking to a daughter. Sirius didn't think he could see anything more surprising than the tension between his professors, that was until Auror Moody, Mad-Eye, as some called him, stepped in.
Sirius had heard of the auror, had heard the stories, could see the scars covering the man, and the missing eye replaced with a magical one. He didn't think a single person would ever believe him if he tried to tell them that Mad-Eye Moody had stepped into Hermione's room with a shit-eating grin on his face and had pulled her into his arms and hugged her firmly. Sirius could guarantee they wouldn't believe he had tears in his eyes while he did it and had to clear his throat numerous times before speaking again, as if he had to clear the emotion.
Not that he would tell anyone.
"Dumbledore, what are you doing here?" the auror asked the headmaster. Sirius' brows furrowed once more, even Moody was not acting friendly with the headmaster. Sirius would be speaking to Charlus Potter as soon as he was able.
"Alastor, as headmaster I believe I am not entitled to explain why I would visit my students to inquire their condition," Dumbledore replied diplomatically. Even Sirius noticed the careful way Dumbledore worded himself, he wasn't sure how to feel about all this. He needed a smoke, and a drink.
"Right, well Minerva, Black, I need to speak with Hermione, could you care to vacate?" Moody said turning to Dumbledore again, "I'm assuming you will not be leaving?"
"As a wizard with more titles than just headmaster, I feel I should be here to learn of the events leading to this," Dumbledore replied evenly, Moody rolled his eyes and looked back at Hermione.
"Alright lass, you ready to talk about it?" he asked her, his glass eye staring at her and then over at Sirius who hadn't moved, "Black?"
"He's not leaving," Hermione finally said, squeezing his hand tighter as if they would forcibly remove him.
"Lass, you sure?" Moody asked hesitantly, looking at Hermione's determined face he sighed and nodded his understanding that the young wizard would stay. McGonagall gave Hermione a kiss on the cheek and told her that she would return to visit soon, and she was so happy she was awake. Hermione was happy McGonagall never once said she was glad, she was okay, because she wasn't, but she was awake. Her teacher understood that, and thankfully Moody understood that she needed someone by her side and if Black was who she trusted to be that person, then he would allow it. Moody would be speaking to the wizard before he left however, that boy would be sure to never, ever hurt Hermione McCallister while he had breath in his lungs and blood in his heart.
"Now Hermione, this will be hard I am sure, but can you tell us anything that happened?" Moody asked. As an Auror he knew his duty, he needed to be clinical about this, he could not let his emotions get in the way, so he closed that side of him off and waited for her to explain everything. He knew he would have a hard time hearing this, he had to close that side off or his magic could set off. It had happened before, a case that had been personal, the murder of his partners wife, a woman he had shared dinners with for years. When he had found her body and told of what happened to her, his magic had erupted, and he had destroyed a wall on the other side of the street. No one had been injured thankfully, but the paperwork had been a nightmare, and don't even get him started on the counselling he was sent to.
Sirius had heard exactly what happened to Hermione, he could almost see the wheels turning in her head as she considered what to tell them. If Sirius had to guess, she didn't want to incriminate Regulus or Barty.
"I, I um," Hermione said quietly, her voice was still rough from lack of use, "I was returning from the muggle side of London. Someone was following me, I thought it was just a muggle that saw a young girl out alone, I thought if I got to the Leaky, I would be okay because he couldn't get in there. But then, someone grabbed me from the alley before I could reach the door. I almost escaped, broke his nose, and ran for it," Hermione spoke, her voice strengthening as she spoke, "I almost got out of the alley before the first curse hit. It felt like thousands of knives over my whole body, my insides were burning, they must have placed a silencing charm because no one came when I screamed.
"I lost consciousness and woke up in some dungeon. Some man dragged me upstairs and," Hermione let the tears fall and stopped speaking. She wanted to give Moody a memory of it, but she knew Dumbledore would insist on seeing it, so she needed to have a plan. She chose to share her story up to a certain point, then she would provide a memory of just the torture, she would cut it off before Barty cried out. She would not allow any of them to see that Regulus and Barty were there, they wouldn't know Reggie's eyes as well as she did, you would silence Barty in her memory. Hermione Granger had learnt how to not change a memory exactly but focus on something instead and remove all surrounding noise and distractions. If Hermione wanted, she could simply provide a memory that showed just her in a white space with Bellatrix standing over her, though doing that would allow Dumbledore to know she could modify memories.
"It's okay lass, when you're ready," Moody said as softly as his gruff voice would allow. The auror in question was fighting to rein his temper in, they hadn't even gotten to the hard part yet.
"Can I, can I just show you?" she asked, her brown eyes looking up at him, pleading with him not to make her repeat it. Moody was at a loss, this was the method he usually preferred, yet he would need to watch her torture, the girl he saw as a daughter. He could do this for her, if she had to endure it, he could watch for her. Moody didn't understand how he became such a Hufflepuff around her, he was the big bad auror that every trainee was terrified of, and here he was talking himself into being strong for her.
"If that is what you prefer, we can do it that way. Albus, I believe you have a pensieve?" Moody turned to the headmaster. Dumbledore stood up and glided out of the room without a word, returning shortly after with his pensieve. The three occupants had remained silent, Hermione simply leaning back to rest against her pillows. Sirius continued to rub circles on her knuckles and was tempted to lean over and press a kiss to her temple but refrained.
Moody explained the process to Hermione, to think of her memory at the forefront of her mind and he would place his wand to her temple and extract the memory. Once he withdrew the silver thread and placed it into the pensieve, Moody took a breath and touched the liquid with Dumbledore following. Sirius wanted to also join them, though he thought it was best to not invade her privacy, the look she gave him when he didn't step up told him that she understood his need to go and was giving him permission. Hesitantly he released her hand and stepped closer to the relic, glancing at her once more for reassurance. When she gave him a small smile and nodded slightly that was the approval he needed before joining the auror and headmaster in her memory.
Sirius stepped in just as the first crucio hit her. He watched her endure curse after curse and not break, not once release a scream. She finally let her screams be heard after numerous rounds, Sirius looked to both the elder wizards and saw the open disgust. Moody was horrified at what he watched the girl endure, he had seen aurors break at the first curse and she had suffered four rounds before letting herself scream. He was so proud of the girl he cared for, he was devastated she had to experience it, but oh so proud for how she handled it. He could see the frustration on Bellatrix Lestrange's face, her anger at not causing a Muggleborn to beg for mercy, beg for death.
Dumbledore was watching, he had arranged his face into a mask of disgust, however he did not watch Hermione. He did not particularly care about the torture, no he cared about what was happening around her. Why was she being tortured? What was the purpose? Who was in attendance? What was Voldemort up to? Yet, Dumbledore learned nothing from the memory. Every Death Eater wore a mask bar Bellatrix, the eyes of everyone were blurred because Hermione's memory did not retain that information. Voldemort stood by as if bored of what was happening in front of him, he gave no indication of why this particular Muggleborn was being tortured.
Sirius wished he could run forward and protect her; he knew it was only a memory but seeing it made him want to rush forward and stop it. Kill his cousin prior to her marking Hermione's soft skin. He was confused however, as Reggie had told him all about the event, how Barty had been screaming for Bellatrix to stop, Hermione staring at Reggie's eyes. Yet, there was no Barty in this memory, no screaming for it to stop, he couldn't even find Reggie in the group of Death Eaters. Every pair of eyes were blurred, and the only sounds were Hermione's screams and Bellatrix's laughter. Had Reggie been lying and it hadn't been punishment to force Barty's hand or had Hermione somehow protected her friends?
The thoughts running through each of their minds were quickly stopped when the knife was pulled out. Even Dumbledore, a strategic general with a god complex, was not immune to the horror of muggle means of torture. Their society was cruel and sadistic, murdering with a flash of light and producing torture curses and slicing hexes, however, the use of muggle torture was considered one of the most sadistic and perverse tactics, along with rape. Seeing a full-grown witch straddle a teenager and laugh as she sliced her open like a piece of meat, it could turn the stomachs of any with a soul. Sirius wanted to hurl, his family was doing this, his cousin was laughing as she carved a young girl up. Sirius looked up and could see quite a few Death Eaters appeared uncomfortable with the direction Bellatrix took, some were turning away, some shuffled their feet as if wanting to leave, and many closed their eyes.
Sirius was not the only one to notice the discomfort of the other Death Eaters, Dumbledore looked to Voldemort to see how he reacted to his follower's displeasure. The evil wizard acknowledged it and simply requested Bellatrix did not allow her to die. Moody saw that there were cracks in the evil wizards ranks, maybe not enough for them to leave him, but it was enough that Moody saw they were not entirely behind the actions of Voldemort.
The last thing they all saw was Voldemort offering her to Greyback and then darkness shrouded them as Hermione went unconscious in the memory. The three wizards were expulsed from the pensieve and back into the hospital wing. Dumbledore had offered his condolences to Hermione and left, even Sirius could feel the insincerity of his words. Moody had pulled Hermione into a firm embrace, promising her that he would find Bellatrix and make her suffer now that he knew who to punish. Moody had stormed out before his emotions could demolish the hospital wing and headed straight for the Potter's house to partake in strong whiskey and unleash his opinions of Albus on Charlus.
When it was only Sirius and Hermione in the room an awkward silence fell over them. Hermione had already asked why he was there, he had never answered, but she had held his hand securely the entire time Dumbledore was there. She knew it was silly, this Dumbledore hadn't done any of the things Granger had experienced, nevertheless, she was terrified the headmaster would take her Sirius away.
Sirius Black and his friends had gone through too much and she wanted to ensure that never happened. Pettigrew was going to be a concern as Granger had no clue when he turned, and her Sirius and Remus had never shared when they suspect it happened.
Hermione didn't want to break the silence, she didn't want to awkwardly ask again why he was there, she didn't want him to think she didn't want him there. She had given him permission to see her memory, she felt a little guilty that it wasn't the true memory she showed him, but she pushed that thought away. Sirius didn't need to know his brother had become a Death Eater, she needed to protect Sirius from it all. He had too much darkness already, and she would make sure none of the future darkness came to be for him.
"I missed you," Sirius finally broke the silence, causing Hermione to jump slightly and look over at him with a thoughtful frown, "That's why I'm here." Sirius felt awkward and exposed, he had never admitted to someone his feelings before. Even with the Marauders, he never specifically said how much he cared for them and how special their friendship was to him, no he may exuberantly say he loves them, but nothing that could be considered an emotional confession. Nothing that would leave him feeling vulnerable.
"You, you missed me?" she asked with wide eyes, she couldn't believe it. She must have misheard.
"I um, I wrote to you over the summer, but you never replied. I thought maybe, you just didn't want to talk to me," he admitted, Hermione was about to say something when he continued, "Then we came back, and I found out you were here. I, well, I thought you needed a friend at your side."
Hermione looked at Sirius, really looked at him and she saw the sincerity in his eyes. She had appreciated his eyes last year when they verbally sparred, however, now she could see that the molten silver she had previously described his eyes as, were so much more. There was dark stormy blue around the pupil with specks of light blue throughout the light grey of his iris. They were the most beautiful and expressive eyes she had ever seen. She could see the concern he felt for her, the sincerity behind his words, and the fear of being so open with her. She knew from Granger's past that Sirius was a very isolated individual, she had thought it had been from losing his best friends in the span of a night and tossed in Azkaban for a dozen years. Now as McCallister she could see that was just Sirius, he was scared to share his affection because of his family, Reggie had told her about his punishments for emotional, for never learning the Slytherin mask. He had learned it though, his defense mechanism however, was to act like he didn't care, fake nonchalance while hiding his true emotions. It was all in his eyes however, he may have a casual smile or straight face, but his eyes told her everything.
"I would have written back," was all Hermione replied. Those simple words brought a huge smile to Sirius' face, those five words had him releasing a breath he hadn't known he was holding. It was an unspoken agreement that they were friends.
Sirius sat with her for the rest of the night, he missed the Halloween feast ignoring her insistence that he attended. When he finally left at the end of the night it was with the knowledge that Hermione would be discharged the next day and he was to look after her. He had promised her that he would be there for her whenever she needed him and not to even think she was disturbing him. Hermione smiled and gave him a small hug goodbye, still slightly uncomfortable with physical forms of affection, something Granger had loved.
Hermione went to sleep smiling at the knowledge that she could now do what she was meant to. This entire life she had lived had a purpose, the pain she had endured, the isolation, all of it was to make sure Harry Potter had a good future. No child, not Harry, not Neville, no child would be destined to defeat Voldemort. She would not allow Dumbledore to lead countless Order members to their death. She would not allow Barty to descend into the ranks of Death Eaters and torture the Longbottoms, she would not allow Reggie to go after a horcrux on his own.
Hermione would not allow Voldemort to live.
-oOo-
A/N: So I decided one long chapter for Hermione waking up would be good. Next chapters can now be what Hermione is up to now that she has Granger's memories. How will she find the horcruxes, save the Potters, Sirius, Reggie, Barty, and end Voldemort? I'm not sure how many chapters this story will be but I am so beyond excited to get to this point. I will likely be working on my other story next, so I may not post on this one for a while as I force myself to post a new chapter for my Jamione story and with school starting back up as well.
For now, favourites and follows are always appreciated and I love reviews!