Hermione wanted to scream. It had been two weeks since that awful meeting had taken place. Remus had ignored every one of her letters until a note had arrived informing her to cease communications or he would alert Dumbledore or the Aurors to her presence. She couldn't believe he was so unable to listen. Hermione tried hard to empathise, imagining if someone had told her Ron had betrayed her then flipped and said actually it was Harry all along, and how impossible the situation would seem. But Hermione had told him about the second war and he didn't seem to care. Hermione needed Remus to catch Pettigrew. Despite her grand plans, breaking into Hogwarts would be a stupid idea at this point, especially with Remus so on edge. She realised she wasn't dealing with kind Professor Remus but rather the Remus who ran away from his pregnant wife. This was the Remus too scared to get close, cowardly Remus she thought nastily then sighed. That wasn't fair, being a werewolf was a huge strain on him, not to mention a new job, new worries about Sirius Black and too many dead friends. She could understand that part.

The plan would need to be adjusted. It was now October and in just a few weeks Sirius would attempt to break into the common room to catch Peter and fail, causing Peter to run. She wouldn't know where he was until summer when he is caught by Hagrid. What if she managed to change that?

She had been avoiding contacting Sirius, believing him to be hotter headed and harder to manage than Remus - maybe that was her mistake. As inspiration hit, Hermione retreated into the second bedroom and began scrawling vigorously on the whiteboards altering her plans.

Hermione arrived at the cave carrying a large amount of food in her small beaded bag and a spare wand. She had even slotted a small knife into her boot as she knew Sirius could be unpredictable and didn't want to risk anything.

"Hello…" she called as she walked into the cave. Silence followed; the wind rushed into the cane making a shrill screaming sound causing the hairs on the back of her neck to bristle.

She sat down and set a rug on the ground, pulling food out of the bag and hoping the picnic might tempt the starving man. She slowly ate. When she heard padding behind her she tried to remain calm, as she saw a big black dog walk slowly towards her. His coat was sparse and she could see his ribs jutting out.

"Hello boy, would you like some chicken," she said slowly holding out a leg. The mangy dog slowly walked towards her and grabbed it, before darting back towards the cave walls. She needed to get his trust so she could catch him and talk to him. She wasn't going to play this like Remus; she was going to tell him everything he needed to hear before he had the chance to run off. They continued the game of him slowly approaching and grabbing pieces of food then retreating for a while until he got comfortable and she decided it was time to move.

"I'm so sorry about this," she breathed before pointing her wand at the dog and shouting, "Incancerous."

Unfortunately, despite his poor condition Sirius still maintained good reflexes and the dog darted out the way and made for the door.

"Bombarda" she yelled at the cave entrance hoping the sound wouldn't attract any nosy locals.

Sirius eyed her, growling. She had trapped him in here with her. She kept her wand pointed at him and opened her mouth to explain, when he lunged at her teeth bared. She dove to the side to avoid the sharp teeth trying to explain all the while,

"Sirius please," she raced from the dog, firing stunners as she threw herself around the cave.

"I know you're innocent please" she shouted as she narrowly missed him, landing awkwardly on her right arm. The dog seemed to tilt his head to the side and Hermione wondered if he was considering her statement but as she moved her arm to flex her injured shoulder, he darted again at her.

"Look I promise I know about you; I know about Peter the rat, I know about Harry and I know that Regulus died a hero for the light", she tried desperately, thinking of what might throw him off or interest him most of the future.

As she finished speaking, he launched at her his sharp teeth bared widely and she closed her eyes bracing for impact. When she opened them, she saw he had transformed back into a man, his face close to hers, one arm pinning her down and the other holding a large knife towards her face.

"What the fuck did you just say?" He growled. His voice raspy from lack of use.

"Look, please put that knife down and I'll explain," Hermione asked, trying not to look at the cleaver just a few cm from her face.

"Nice try sweetheart but I think I hold all the cards here - just what do you think you know?" He responded, moving closer, his lank hair tickling her forehead.

"Look my name is Hermione Granger, I can't tell you everything until I know I can trust you but I know that you were framed by Peter Pettigrew. I know where the rat is hiding and I can help you catch him."

This seemed to interest Sirius, his smile faded and he looked less like the grinning criminal and more like the solemn man he could be.

He scrutinised Hermione, "Why would you do that?"

"Because he hurt me too" she whispered and did something she didn't know was brave or stupid to a man wielding a knife and stroked his face.

For a moment Sirius seemed to relish in the touch before he quickly moved off her, grabbing her wand in the process but dropped the knife. He sat on the ground beside her and pointed it at her.

"Carry on" he said slowly.

"Okay look" she began. "I've brought you a whole bunch of food and even a spare wand but I do want mine back"

Sirius nodded at the bag seeming to give her permission. Hermione slowly reached in the bag grabbed the spare wand and rolled it at him. He greedily snatched it up and gave it a twirl watching with a smile as sparks flew. He carefully rolled hers back to her keeping his trained on her the whole time.

Hermione continued, "I have a place we can stay it's not near Hogwarts but with the wand we can apparate back to get Pettigrew whenever. It's got a shower and you can use the sofa, sorry the spare room is sort of under construction right now," She was aware she was rambling but he seemed to be giving the thought some consideration.

"A shower?" He asked gruffly.

"Yes" she said simply and quickly tacked on "also as much food as you want and no dementors."

"No dementors" he repeated. She nodded watching him. He sat still for a while and seemed to be arguing it out in his head before slowly nodding.

"Okay I'll apparate us," she said as they both stood up. She slowly moved to grab his arm and felt him stiffen for a moment before she turned and they disappeared from the cave with a crack.

When they arrived Sirius immediately bent over and began retching. She realised belatedly it had probably been some time since apparating for him. Gods she thought, it had probably been over twelve years. He breathed raggedly before pulling himself up and looking at her. They stood staring at each other for a moment before she realised, he was waiting for her to make the first move.

"Okay" she began "The shower is just through here, I laid out some clothes and toiletries. I hope you don't mind. I was hoping you would come back with me," she said pointing at her bathroom.

"Oh, you were, were you?" Sirius smirked but it seemed awkward on him in his dishevelled state.

"Oh yes, I really was," Hermione replied honestly before sitting on the sofa as he began moving to the bathroom,

"When you're out I'll explain everything" she promised.

He turned from the bathroom door to face her and asked in a quiet voice, "And about Regulus?" He whispered.

"Yes, I will" she said firmly. He nodded and turned back towards the bathroom shutting the door with a click.

Hermione felt awkward as she waited for Sirius to return. It was one thing to plan for this event but now he was here and everything was unpredictable. Hermione had never fared well with unpredictability- ideas were always so much easier on paper than in the real world. That's why you were never the strategist she thought crossly to herself remembering her days consulting with the aurors. She didn't have the same defence instincts that Harry did or the strategic head of Ron and the other key aurors. Her role was always more admin - vitally important but not glamorous.

Sometime later, she heard the latch of the bathroom door move and looked up to see Sirius looking so different she double took. His long waist length hair was gone, replaced with a buzzcut and his beard had disappeared. She supposed he had used the electric razor for his head too. It was strange seeing his face so clean after the wide-eyed convict he'd looked like before. His already prominent cheekbones were extreme on his hollowed face and he reminded her of an aging rock star who had done too many drugs in his youth.

"Feeling any better?" She questioned.

"Much" he replied.

"Okay, so, please take a seat." He walked over to her, Ron's trousers dragging on the floor.

"Right. Who the fuck are you?" He asked plainly.

"I'm Hermione granger, and I'm from the future" she stated.

"Okay" he said simply "how do we know each other?"

"That's it? You believe me?" She questioned staring hard at him.

"Honestly, I'm not sure yet but it seems plausible," he shrugged, "how else would you know all that stuff about me and where I was?"

She muttered to herself, "If only Remus was this simple."

"You know Moony!" Sirius said excitedly, she hadn't seen him so animated since the cave.

"Um yes but he sort of um well I tried explaining actually you see but I'm-"

"He didn't believe I'm innocent, did he?" Sirius asked deflating.

"'No, I'm sorry he didn't". Hermione responded, not wanting to lie to the man "So I know you because I'm Harry Potter's best friend and at the end of this year, the first time around, you catch Peter in front of me, him and Ronald Weasley" she started. His eyes lit up as he waited for her to continue. "But he escapes but you are cleared enough for the Order and Dumbledore. You move to Grimmauld place"

"Fuck no" he mutters to himself.

"And we and Harry see you during the holidays, next year though Voldemort rises to power and we end up in the Seconding Wizarding War."

"Right so what happens to me during that then…"

"Um well," Hermione started.

"Fucks sake just say it woman."

"Well, you die. You're kind of the first one of the Order to die actually,"

"Merlin that's so embarrassing."

"It's not embarrassing. It was actually quite horrible. Harry was devasted."

"Who was it?" Sirius asked quietly.

Hermione sighed, "Bellatrix."

"Bitch." He smiled, "Well it's not happening again. Lay out your grand plan then. And what was that you said about Regulus?"

"Well Voldemort created horcruxes to keep himself alive - it's how he returns next year and it's how he returned in my first year when Harry fought him" Hermione explained.

"Horcruxes? Harry fought Voldemort in first year?" Sirius questioned. "What the fuck what the fuck," he breathed to himself looking down at his hands.

Impulsively Hermione grabbed them and looked him in the eyes. He jumped at the contact but didn't pull away.

"Yes, he did, it was awful but Harry survived him at only 11 years old. Now the horcruxes thing is tricky but we have an advantage, I know exactly where they are this time. That's how I know what happened to Regulus and why I need you. One of the horcruxes is at Grimmauld place."

Sirius looked hard at Hermione, "Don't make me stay there."

"I never would - I think it's wrong that Dumbledore made you stay there but we need to go get it. It's there because when Regulus realised the realities of serving Voldemort, he changed his mind and tried to destroy the horcrux himself. His last act was one of immense bravery". Hermione's fingers were still intertwined with Sirius's and she felt him clasp her hands.

"What happened?" he asked.

Her eyes began tearing up, "Inferi," she said softly. "I'm sorry."

Sirius quickly removed his hands and lent his head back onto the couch.

"Ah classic Regulus, dramatic until the end," he said smirking and it made her unnerved watching him snap from one emotion to another but she knew it was part of dealing with his grief - she had seen it from George enough.

"I have his letter" she said. "I know it's strange but I always kept it. I found very meaningful in times of struggle." She reached into the beaded bag and pulled it out before handing it to Sirius. He grunted and put it in his pocket without looking at it.

"I'm going to get some sleep, it's late," Hermione stood. "There's bedding in the cabinet, please take whatever you want from the kitchen. I'll be in my room. Good night."

Sirius was staring hard at the wall in front of him and seems a little dazed but as she entered her room, she heard a softly spoken.

"Good night, Hermione".