Chapter 3:

Darkness. That is all he could remember. There was no beginning, no end just this all-consuming but strangely peaceful darkness. He didn't know how long he spent there but eventually there was this flickering of light. It grew brighter and brighter and it was beautiful. A presence who took on no form, was gently guiding him out of the comfortable space he was in. At first he had smiled when he saw the bundle of light, the presence of which filled him with warmth and happiness he didn't even know existed but as he followed it further and further into the blinding light he was overcome with pain. It was excruciating. He had often enough been at the end of the cruciatus curse yet he couldn't even begin to compare it to the pain he was feeling now. It was like the light had ripped him away from the darkness and the separation had proved to be unbearable.

As he became vaguely aware of the sound of his own breathing, he tried to open his eyes. He looked around and noticed he was holding hands with someone and was shocked to find a much younger looking Remus than he remembered, clutching his left hand but it wasn't nearly as shocking in comparison to whom he found holding his right hand. There, still unconscious, was his best friend who was supposed to be dead; James Potter. Sirius didn't have time to dwell on the situation or his feelings as he realized that between the three of them they unconsciously created some sort of circle with their bodies and in the middle lay a huddled up figure.

The pain that clawed at him when he saw who the person was who looked so weak and pathetic, was indescribable. ''Hermione!'' his voice was hoarse as he crawled towards her before planting her gently on his lap, her head only supported by and dangling over his right arm. For some reason that he couldn't even begin to understand she was soaking wet and wearing a beautiful but uncomfortable looking wedding dress. Her frizzy, curly hair was piled up on top of her head but most of it had come undone, sticking to her face. Her brown locks were littered with jewels, shaped like stars and they blinked in the dim light. Her skin had turned pale with an almost blue glow and was covered in all sorts of runes Sirius didn't recognize. Even on the brink of death she looked like an angel Sirius thought bitterly. He clutched her to his chest, holding her while rocking them both as her name spilled over his lips over and over again. He felt desperation like he never felt before and even if they had only met a few times, he knew deep within himself that her death might just as well be the end of him. That thought was so ridiculous that he paused and gathered his thoughts. He didn't understand why he felt such grief and overwhelming sadness for someone whom he hardly knew. In the end his conclusion was that he felt like he owed her a lot. Even when he last saw her and she was much, much, younger, she had shown fierce protectiveness over his godson, had shown kindness to his friend and had shown bravery when she had saved his life. He used that as an excuse to confirm what he already knew; he couldn't let her die.

Remus heart dropped when he woke up to the sight of Hermione laying in Sirius' arms the visual, so like the nightmares he used to have in the last year of his life. Usually in his nightmares it would be him holding her, only a few times James and Sirius would be present but they all ended the same way; with Hermione dead. Unlike Sirius, he had been gifted with enough time to watch Hermione grow from a little girl to a brave, intelligent, young woman. That last year they had bonded over their love for knowledge and shared worry over harry. And somewhere in between late-night talks and planning to save the world they'd both come to care for each other deeply and it wasn't long before Remus had developed a crush on the enchanting younger witch.

For a moment he let himself pretend as if she was just sleeping, looking as if she was having a pleasant dream because of the smile that graced her beautiful lips. But just as quickly he shook himself out of it and faced reality as he too walked over to her limp body and let himself fall to his knees next to Sirius who still hadn't seem to notice that he was there.

Finally, after what seemed forever but couldn't have been more than a few minutes, she suddenly shot up, her chest convulsing as she choked out water. after she felt like she had thrown up most of the water in her lungs she let herself rest back in the arms of the man who she thought she would never see again. I must be dead she thought, for how else could Sirius Black be here, holding her? Yes this must be heaven she thought and smiled lazily and happily at the thought of all her pain ending, of never having to fight again and of having at least one soulmate with her, having not noticed the other two men.

Meanwhile Sirius stared with wide eyes at the pretty witch in his arms that gazed at him with an expression that made his breath stuck in his throat. Her eyes were even prettier than he remembered, it was the color of caramel and strangely reminded him of those long summer days that he spent in the backyard of the potters, those days looking back were the happiest days of his life so far. Nevertheless, besides admiring her beauty he had noticed the faraway look in her eyes that made her almost appear drunk and he figured that she was still out of it, very much so. And that they needed to find help. All of his worries seemed to cease though, as he felt a delicate, small, soft hand cupping his cheek. She smiled at him then. And by merlin he had never seen anything as magnificent as that smile.

How he managed to place one of his own hands, which by the way were ridiculously large compared to hers, over her smaller one and managed a soft smile back, he would never know. ''Sirius.'' His name flew of her lips like a prayer. She gave another smile, this one wider, before her eyes rolled back and her head was limply dangling over his right arm once again.

Sirius body stiffened with shock which gave Remus the opportunity to travel Hermione from Sirius' arms to his. Sirius felt like he was in a sort of trance as he saw Remus standing there, holding Hermione in a bridal fashion. He also noticed that his usually composed friend's face was wet with tear tracks, his raw pain and panic clearly visible in his eyes. ''We have to get help.'' Remus was thankful that his voice still sounded steady, but his brain was working overtime. In time of crisis he tried to block out his emotions that could be clouding his judgment and tried to think logically. He and Hermione were very much the same in that aspect. But somehow this time it didn't seem to work.

''First of all, where are we?''

''we are in the veilroom.'' His concentration was momentarily broken as James' deep voice echoed through the space. Remus nodded in thanks, knowing that if he said any more, he would probably burst into tears and they would quickly run out of time. James seemed to understand this. Although he certainly didn't know what to think of the situation. He woke up after what seemed like a long sleep to find his two best mates standing around a girl, both clutching onto her as if she was their last lifeline. He had awoken early enough to see the girl whisper Sirius' name before passing out again. he had never seen her before but he knew she had to be important. Because for all the losses they had experienced James had yet to see a death elicit such reactions from his friends and it scared him.

''okay what is the nearest hospital.''

''St Mungos.'' Sirius yelled, clearly not containing his emotions as well as Remus. ''We can apparate there.'' He continued and felt the urge to punch Remus in the face when he saw him shake his head. ''In this emotional state that we are in right now? We would almost certainly get splinched.'' They started to bicker even if they both wanted to same thing. But where Sirius was hotheaded and impulsive Remus knew not to act on his emotions and think of the consequences.

''I agree with Sirius. It is our best shot.'' Both turned around surprised, almost as if they had forgotten about him. When Remus tried to think of any other solution but didn't find one he reluctantly nodded his head before taking a deep breath.

''Ready? 1.. 2.. 3..''