From the Past

___________________

The gargoyle protecting the Headmaster’s office seemed to now closely resemble a snake. Not surprising Hermione supposed since Headmaster Snape was in fact from Slytherin House. Severus spun on his heel to face them and arched a single brow at Hermione when she quickly jumped away from Black, the arm around her waist dropping to the slightly hurt-looking young man’s side.

“You know I wondered how long it would take you to make a move on the delectable know-it-all, Black. But I am, however, surprised at you, Miss Granger.” Snape spoke smoothly glaring at them both before turning and whispering his password that sounded awfully like “Evans.”

Inside, Black threw himself easily into one of the two chairs in front of the large black desk, feet resting up on the tabletop, in a way that seemed well practiced. Hermione could imagine that he had been sent to the Headmaster many times during his years as a student. Hermione took the seat beside him, sitting primly with her hands in her lap and glaring when Black snickered.

“Snape, you old bastard,” Black laughed as the older wizard sat in his large chair behind the desk. “Who did you have to kill to get into that chair?”

Everything happened both very fast and in seeming slow motion. Of all the jokes Black could make when seeing his old rival, it just had to be that one. Hermione rolled her eyes and groaned inwardly, not even sure why she was surprised.

Snape snarled and jumped to his feet. Hermione gasped seeing the murderous glint in her old Potion Master’s eyes. Black grabbed a handful of peanuts out of the bowl on Snape’s desk and threw one in the air, deftly catching it in his mouth and chewing with a muffled, “What?”

Hermione swore and jumped on the desk, kicking Black’s chair so he fell back with a loud, “Oi!” then turned on Snape and performed a silent disarming spell at the same moment Snape was uttering what sounded like a rather nasty severing curse directed at the other wizards crotch.

“Miss Granger!”

“What the bloody hell?”

Hermione looked from one to the other. “I’m sorry but it was for your own good,” she said sternly, glowering down at Black who seemed to manoeuvring his neck to get a better view of her legs. “Pervert,” she muttered, jumping down agilely and retrieving Snape’s wand.

“I’m sorry, Headmaster,” she said sheepishly as she held out his wand, cringing when he snatched it back with a glare that once would have filled her with terror. “You don’t understand, he doesn’t ‘Know’ what happened, he really is the younger Sirius. He somehow managed to apparate twenty years into the future… here.”

Snape accepted his wand with a glower at the cringing muggleborn then sat back in his chair. Hermione helped Black to his feet and bit her lip as Black gave her his own dark look while he fixed his chair and sat again.

“So the mutt has gotten himself into mortal danger again and it’s Potter’s Doormat to the rescue.” Snape sneered cruelly. “Don’t you ever grow tired of putting your life and your moral standing on the line for those reckless, ungrateful sods?”

Hermione cringed at his words and felt that familiar wave of resentment as Sirius’ last words filled her head again. She looked down at Black, at the confusion in his expression and quickly looked away. “Sometimes,” she muttered and licked her lips as she picked her words. “But Harry is my best…”

“Friend, yes I know.” Snape interrupted, with a bored wave of his hand, sitting at his desk again as Black fixed his chair and sat, watching the exchange curiously. “In fact, I’ve heard this many times. You must sacrifice all for the great Mr Potter while he continues his dangerously reckless behaviour and in turn Black, because Potter can’t survive without Black. Let me ask, have any of those so-called friends thanked you for your constant watch, maybe once asked if you mind helping rather then simply taking it for granted that you will drop everything for them?”

She avoided his almost black gaze. “I don’t do it to be thanked, and they take it for granted that I will help because I usually do.”

“Uh-huh,” Snape returned with a all too smug smirk.

“Look, this isn’t about saving Sirius, it’s about protecting the outcome of the war. You know that Sirius was a guide behind many of Harry’s actions and choices in the time leading up to the final days. If this Sirius is stuck here everything is going to change and most probably for the worse.” Hermione was pleading, even though she tried to keep her tone strong.

Snape merely shrugged, “Maybe for the better. I for one can think of several positive resolutions that could be brought about with the absence of a certain mutt.”

“Hey!”


“Well of course you can!” Hermione suddenly jumped to her feet. “Your life will be unaffected either way. But the rest of us matter as well, we were all affected by Sirius‘ um,” she flicked a nervous glance at Black, “Brief absence. True, things ran smoother without the reckless git, but it was Harry’s anger and sorrow at the loss that drove him harder, and since he is the one who finally brought down Tom Riddle it is his need here that must be sated.”

Snape’s eyes closed slowly and she could tell he was fighting his inner demons. Decades of hatred and resentment always seemed to win out over the greater good.

“Severus.” Hermione said looking at him directly till he raised his gaze till brown met black. “Please.”

He looked at her for a long time and after another stretched moment he nodded. With a flick of his wand his door flung open and he waved them out. “Go,” he said shortly.

With a broad smile, Hermione pulled a still rather confused Black to his feet and headed for the door.

*

Black fumed silently as they made the short journey to the library. He was in a state of shock at seeing Snivellus so successful and if he was honest with himself, even looking half decent.

With a sigh he looked at Hermione from the corner of his eyes, her bottom lip was being worried through her teeth and she seemed lost in thought. So lost in fact, she didn’t flinch when his arm tightened around her waist, or when his fingers dug into the plump flesh of her hip.

She was a strange one that much was certain and Snape seemed to enjoy riling her up more then him. In fact, it reminded Black of his own time at Hogwarts, the relationship he had with Snape was almost mirrored with Hermione. He felt an odd sense of protectiveness wash over him for the young witch, wanting to shield her from the bile that was Severus Tobias Snape.

“You…” His lips twitched as he tried to pick his words. “You don’t believe what he was saying right? I mean you know that he was just trying to wrangle a reaction, stir things up, and throw a hinky-punk in with the chickie-doodles.”

She laughed and wound her own arm around his back. “I get it,” she said shaking her head, “And I know what he was doing,” she took a shuddering breath and looked like she was going to say something, but instead looked away as sadness clouding her eyes and she gently pulled out of his arms and walked on.

Black watched Hermione’s back as he walked just behind her. He wondered how many times she had helped him this way and felt a bubble of anger when he remembered the way the older him had spoken to her this morning. When had he turned in to such an arsehole?

~*~*~

Sirius sat at the bar while he waited for the bar keeper to make their drinks, and wondered when exactly he had become such a perverted old bastard. He had remembered her as the girl from his dreams only a few years ago, but his real feelings for her had started later. He had always cared about the mouthy girl but he never really knew her until the last few years and she was well worth knowing.

Strong and compassionate, intelligent and witty, she was the epitome of the well rounded woman. But so young, why in Merlin’s name did she have to be so young? Sirius scowled and drank down his whisky, secretly hating his younger self for being so self assured and sexy in a way that Sirius would never be again. Azkaban had stripped him of so much, and that was never more acute then right now.

‘Mione would never want a bitter old man when so many younger men were practically tripping over themselves to be with her. And she herself was a sexual animal. He knew about her brief threesome relationship with the twins, had in fact walked in and backed out silently once, the image of her perfect naked body sandwiched between the two redheaded wizards, permanently burned into his brain.

Goddamn she was the one woman he knew could challenge him both in and out of the bedroom and she was young enough to be his daughter, the same age as his best friend‘s son.

It had been so strange, he’d gotten back from the future and told Remus where he’d been and about the amazing girl he’d met then promptly forgotten everything. It just wasn’t fair, and yet all those years he had dreamt of her, not sure if she was real or a dream, the feeling of loss and longing kept him alive in Azkaban along with his innocence, then one morning about three years ago she had come down stairs, her hair wild, a lazy smile and her bedroom eyes and he knew.

Not that it did him much good now, no matter what Black and she had, he was now old enough to be her father and she had shown no interest other then the friendly affection she showed all her friends.

Across the bar a handsome blonde woman smiled and raised her drink. Sirius smiled back, mainly out of politeness, swallowed another whiskey and joined his friends.

He sat down just as the door flew open and there she was. He swallowed hard as his eyes grazed over the scandalously short plaid skirt and the blouse that seemed to pull tightly over her perfect round breasts, the buttons straining slightly behind the blue striped tie. He felt his mouth water just looking at her, watching her smile and laugh, she seemed to dance into the pub and light up the dank space.

Her gaze fell on him and he felt his whole body warm when she smiled, as though there was no one else and for just a moment he let himself imagine that, that was exactly how she felt. But it was short lived as the door opened again and a tall, dark haired traitor entered, grinned sinfully and wrapped his arms around her waist, planting a lingering kiss on her shoulder, laughing when she shoved him away. But she was laughing too, and her cheeks flushed when he whispered something in her ear.

*

“Will you stop?!” Hermione giggled and pushed Black away, “You’re going to get me in trouble again.”

Black grinned devilishly and spun her deftly under his arm. “Didn’t you know? Trouble is my middle name, Butterfly.” He grinned and shrugged when she gave him a scathing look. “Well that and danger.”

She laughed despite herself and shook her head as he led her to the table. Hermione grinned When Harry, Ginny, Tonks, Sirius and Remus stood up and waved them over.

“So what can I get for you, Mia?” Black asked, tipping his head towards the bar.

“One, don’t call me Mia,” Hermione said sternly. “And two, get me something with bubbles.”

He grinned widely, oblivious to the five at their table watching their exchange curiously. “Come now, butterfly, you know what happened last time we had this conversation.” his voice dropped suggestively, his eyes hooding as his teeth sank into his lush lower lip. Hermione had to swallow hard to hold in the sigh.

Goddamn he was sexy. With a slow wink he chuckled, a soft almost cat like rumbling from his chest and turned away heading for the bar.

Hermione felt her lips stretch into a slightly giddy grin as she watched him go, his broad back flexing and his hips swaying slightly as he walked. How could such a bad boy be so graceful? Just went to prove, she supposed, you can take the boy out of the aristocracy but can’t take the aristocracy out of the boy. He radiated handsome elegance and class, how ever much he wanted to rebel, there it was.

She shook her head and sat at the table, looking up sheepishly when she realised that her friends were still watching her.

“Good morning then?” Harry said with a smirk and Hermione giggled and covered her eyes with her hand as she calmed her breathing and tried to settle her mind. But when she looked at Ginny and Tonks, both grinning knowingly she laughed again and dropped her head to the table.

“Merlin, he’s worse then the twins,” Hermione gaped and grinned at Sirius who looked slightly more awkward at that statement. “But they’re trapped in one body and both trying to go in separate directions.”

“And just as many hands, I’ll wager?” Tonks teased, earning herself another blush.

“Don’t get me started.” Hermione groaned then looked back at Sirius and smiled uncomfortably. “Could this situation get any more bizarre?”

Sirius smiled back, and she was relieved to see that familiar warmth back in his gaze. “Oh I get the feeling that this is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg,” he said, chuckling. “So how did you fair?”

“Well,” Hermione started with a smug grin. “Severus sends hugs,” she laughed when he rolled his eyes. “And… I got the books with his blessing.”

Sirius laughed and clapped his hands loudly, “’Mione I bow to you. I thought for certain he’d throw you out on your ear if he caught you.”

“Almost did mate,” Black said with a laugh as he sat down, placing a glass of lemonade in front of Hermione and settling his own Firewhiskey on the table. “But ‘Mia here managed to sweet talk us past the slimy prefects, and then Snape snuck up on us while we were…otherwise engaged.”

Hermione flushed and glared at Black as he spoke those last words, his voice taking on a slight purr as he smirked right back at her.

“Yes, thank you, Black,” she snapped and flicked a quick look at Sirius’ darkening expression as she took a long drink. “I spoke to Severus, and after we got past his need to remove a certain part of Black’s anatomy, I got him to see reason.”

“Lucky that,” Black snickered and dropped his hand lightly on her bare thigh, caressing with his thumb as he grinned wickedly into her eyes. “Otherwise I’d be sitting here with one very disappointed butterfly.”

Hermione rolled her eyes. “Merlin, Black can’t we forget your ego, just for a few minutes?”

“I’d love to!” He said, his face a mask of innocence even as his large hand tightened and squeezed her sensitive flesh beneath the table. “But it’s just so big.”

The laugh seemed to explode from her, shocking both her and the other occupants of the bar as her head dropped and her shoulders shook. She covered her mouth and coughed in an attempt to calm herself and managed to look at Black sternly. “Black that was not fun…” but she was laughing again before she finished the fifth word.

He seemed to catch on quickly, smirking even as twin pink spots appeared high on his cheeks. Black leaned closer, “Bigger then my ego, Butterfly,” he murmured and threw his head back laughing when Harry spat his beer across the table.

He flicked his gaze to his much older counterpart then back to Hermione. “Ask him if you don’t believe me.”

Hermione’s eyes rose from the table and she grinned as Sirius took a long swig of his Firewhiskey, an identical blush on his high cheeks as Black’s. At length his gaze met hers and a slow very arrogant smirk was her answer. She felt herself drowning in his gaze; his was so dark and filled with loss and yet still held that hint of playfulness that was so prominent in Black.

“Told you,” Black whispered and moved his hand further up her thigh so his long fingers were just inches away from the quickly dampening crotch of her panties.

With another muffled giggle Hermione pushed away his hand, nipping her lip at the chill left from the loss of his warm strength. “Cute,” she muttered and took another drink then looked at her glass confused. “This is lemonade.”

“You said you wanted something with bubbles,” Black replied, shifting a stray lock of hair from her face.

“I did,” she said, not quite sure why she was confused.

“I can get you something stronger if you like, Mia. I just assumed that you weren’t much of a drinker, you seem to like keeping control.” And he wasn’t joking, his face open and that real smile doing strange things to her heartbeat.

“I do,” she said dumbly. “And I’m not - much of a drinker, I mean.”

Of all the men who had been interested in her, Black was the first to not try to ply her with alcohol in order to ‘loosen her up’. And he was still smiling with a hint of confusion in his expression that was almost too endearing.

He moved to get up, “Do you want me to get you something stronger?” but she was quick to stop him with a hand on his arm.

“No, no this is perfect.” she said unconsciously rubbing her fingers up and down his muscular arm, pulling her hand away suddenly when she realised. “I, um - I’m just going to sneak off to the little witch’s room.” she said and clenched her fists in her effort to not sprint and throw herself behind that thick, safe door.

*

Black watched Mia go, a soft smile on his lips at the way her hips swayed and her shoulders sat high. If he were walking beside her he would feel the urge to slide his fingers down the perfect line of her back. Once she was out of sight he shook himself inwardly and turned his attention back to his older self, who also seemed to be watching her and had now turned to glower at him.

“Right,” Sirius growled. “You are going to back off, now! Hermione is not some little toy, she‘s our friend”

Black glared right back, lips pulling back in a snarl as his temper rose. “Yeah, well not for long, mate,” he spat and jumped to his feet when his older counterpart did the same.

Tonks and Ginny both squeaked and jumped back. “Um…” Ginny started.

“We’re going to the little witch’s room as well,” Tonks finished and the two women fled quickly.

Remus placed a calming hand on Sirius’ shoulder. “Padfoot, what are you doing?” He spoke softly and seemingly speaking to both.

Sirius growled low in his throat as he glared at the younger wizard, oblivious to Harry moving back from the table.

“What do you mean by that?” Sirius asked his voice dangerously low.

“Exactly what it sounded like?” Black hissed back. “How many times has she pulled our arses out of the fire? Cause from what Snivellus says, it sounds like a lot.”

“Since when do we listen to anything that greasy git says?” Sirius gritted out.

“Since Mia does,” Black said, his eyes blazing.

“Don’t - Call - Her - That.” Sirius’ words jerked from between clenched teeth and his cheeks flushed.

Black smirked, and tipped his head to the side as his eyes grazed over his older self. “What? You want a kiss too, you filthy bastard?”

That was it.

Sirius roared and with one hand, gripped the table and threw it out the way, advancing on his younger self before the overturned table hit the ground.

Black lunged back just in time to miss the older man’s fist, then ducked another punch before speaking again, grinning even though, out of breath. “What the fuck happened to you? What have you done to me?”

Sirius puffed and circled his younger self, “I grew up, that’s what happened. And it’s bloody well time you did too. Now tell me what you‘re talking about before I start messing up our pretty face.”

Remus and Harry looked at each other and cringed, this wasn’t going to end well.

They continued to circle and after another moment, Black spoke again. “She’s amazing, and strong, and she’s more outspoken then Aunt Meda. Snape was antagonising her, the word ‘doormat’ was said and she didn’t argue.”

“What’s new!?” Sirius cried, throwing his arms out to the sides. “We’re talking about Snape here, and if you think he hated us, that’s nothing compared to how much he hates Harry and Hermione. He would give anything to see us all split just for the pure underhanded pleasure of doing so.”

“Yeah, I get that bit, old man,” Black sniped and sniggered at the way Sirius snarled at him. “I’m talking about Mia, she knows what he’s doing, and she knows why, but at the same time, when he called her Potter’s Doormat, she did that thing she does, when she knows you’re right. You know that thing where she nibbles the corner of her lip and knits her brow all cute like.”

Sirius bared his teeth and grabbed Black by his collar, dragging the shocked marauder close. “You’ve been here a day, you juvenile bastard.” Sirius spat, “Stop talking like you know her.”

“Maybe I have only been here a day, grandpa.” Black sneered, smirking deviously into the older man’s eyes. “But I know her a damn sight better then you, and better yet, I know that she feels like pure heaven when she melts in my arms, and tastes even better.”

Sirius’ fist reared back and with a grunt he let it fly. Black gave a grunt of his own as the fist met his eye and sent him stumbling back, falling to the floor.

“Sirius!”

They both turned at the sound of Hermione’s voice. Sirius jumped away, a slightly dazed expression on his face as he looked from Hermione and back to Black on the floor.

“What is this?” Hermione said, outraged as she took in the tipped over table and the black haired man propped on his elbows on the floor, his eye swelling closed and turning an angry purple colour.

“I… he…” Sirius stuttered, glaring down at Black and seeming to decide not to say anything.

Black shook his head and looked up at the concerned and rather annoyed looking witch. “It was nothing, Mia.” he said with a grin that widened when he saw her expression softening as she reached out to help him up.

Sirius growled again and grabbed a fist full of Black’s shirt, yanking him to his feet; Hermione’s scream the main background noise. “This doesn’t concern you,” he snarled and pulled his hand back again to treat the younger version of himself to another punch.

“No!” Hermione yelled and threw herself at Sirius. “Sirius, please. What ever this is about it’s not worth…” But she never finished. Sirius diverting from punching Black to shove her roughly away and she tumbled to the floor with a thud.

“Take your adolescent crush to a boy more within your own league, little girl.” Sirius spat and Hermione cringed her eyes shimmering with tears of humiliation. Had he known all this time?

The sight of Hermione’s anguished expression seemed to break both Remus and Harry out of their stupor and both lunged at the two almost identical men. Remus grabbed Sirius under his arms and yanked him back; muttering something dangerous when the shorter man tried to struggle and Sirius stopped and let his friend hold him back.

Harry was supporting Black and all four of them seemed to be watching Hermione. She slowly climbed to her feet, unable to look at any of them as she wiped away her tears with the back of her hand, picked up her bag, and with as much dignity as she could muster, everything considered, the Muggleborn walked passed them and out into the cool night air.

She could have apparated from there, but wanted to feel the cold on her heated face a little longer. Damn, damn, damn!” she hissed as she felt more tears drip down her cheeks. “How could I have been so stupid? Of course he knew, probably been hoping it would just go away all this time.” Once again she felt her mind and body flood with humiliation to the extent that she shuddered and had to grit her teeth to force it back.

With a deep calming breath, Hermione pulled her wand and apparated back to Grimmauld Place. But as she stepped inside another loud *Pop* made her turn, letting out a shock squeak at the sight of Black looking worse for wear.

He was breathing hard and looking at her with about as much anguish as she felt. The wizard stepped closer and stumbled, holding up a hand to signal that he was fine when she moved to help him. His gaze cast to the side briefly before returning to her face.

“Merlin, Mia, I’m so sorry,” he said licking his lips in an effort to find the right words. “I don’t know what the hell happened to me, but what that man did was inexcusable.”

Hermione shook her head and moved forward to take his hand, trying to smile warmly, but her trembling lips betrayed her. “Black…”

“No!” He interrupted and gripped her hand tightly in his pulling it against his chest. “I need you to know that, he’s not me, I’m not like that. Not me, not now.”

She was honestly touched by the anguish in his voice. What she thought really mattered to him. She smiled again and this time she really did feel the warmth she had tried to convey a moment ago. “I know,” she said simply stroking her hand over his slightly prickly cheek and running her thumb under his swollen eye. “Come on, I have some heeling potions in my room.”

Gripped her hand tightly, almost as though he couldn’t bear to let go he let her lead him to her cosy bedroom. Once inside she sat him on her soft queen-sized bed, opened a draw in her simple white dresser and pulled out a small box.

“Now, I made these, myself and they’re mostly experimental so you have to promise not to tell the ministry if all your hair falls out.” she spoke quickly as she sat on the bed and grinned broadly at his suddenly fearful expression. “I’m joking Black.”

“That was not funny.” he huffed, but his lips twitched and his good eye flashed as he watched her pulling out two bottles and a thick square of what looked like cotton wool.

“Drink this,” she said and handed him a little bottle. “It will help with the headache.”

Black drank it down, retched at the taste and gave her back the empty bottle. Hermione held the other bottle upside-down over the square and after a moment corked it and placed it back in the box. “Now just relax, this will take down the swelling.”

She shifted closer on the bed so her knee was bent up more and leaned forward to hold the potion soaked square over his swollen eye her other hand cupping his cheek to hold him steady.

They were close. Hermione hadn’t realised how close till she met his blue eyed gaze and gasped at the heat and intensity she saw there.

“Mia,” Black breathed, his hand covering hers over his eye and helping her gently pull back the square to reveal his slightly red, but no longer swollen or bruised, eye.

“Yes?” she asked her own voice breathless.

He reached up and gently ran his fingers over her cheek, from under her eye, down her soft cheek to the corner of her mouth then under her plump bottom lip. Despite her qualms over Sirius and what he may or may not remember and whether or not this was right or moral, Hermione felt her body responding to his touch and a mewing sigh escaped her parted lips as she pressed her face against his hand.

“May I kiss you?” He asked his expression uncertain but there was no mistaking the heat there.

“Yes,” she replied and felt her heart flutter when he closed the distance between them and kissed her, slowly, tenderly.

It was wrong, but, Merlin help her, it felt so right.