The Return: Remix

Chapter Four


Three months before…


The potions took time to brew. Too much time, she thought as she took a deep breath to calm herself. Ron had just come back from play on the professional quidditch circuit with the Cannons and within five minutes had managed to get into a loud enough fight that Hermione’s neighbors called the aurors. She ended up leaving the apartment and went over to Sirius’s family home. They still had work to do, but they should be ready by that weekend in two days. Nerves were making her unable to do more than pecking at food and sleep was impossible.


She went to Sirius’s room and found a jacket of his. She wrapped it around herself, inhaling the pale scent of the owner of the jacket. Hermione squeezed her eyes shut, letting the smell swirl around in her mind as she lay down on his bed. She would have to air out the house before he came home. Yes, but sleep now, she told herself.


It was Harry that found her sleeping in the room, thanking the fates that she was able to get some sleep. Remus joined him in the doorway, letting out a long sigh at the sight of her on the bed.


“Sleeping? Finally,” he murmured. “I was about to ask Snape to give her a dreamless sleep.”


“Who said I didn’t?” Snape answered from behind them. “I put a sedative in her tea, which she made and barely touched when she first got here, but it appears it was enough.” They looked over to him and he went on. “We need to talk about the possibility of this ‘rescue’ operation failing.”


“It would kill her,” Remus whispered. “I don’t doubt that for an instant.”


“Neither do I,” Snape whispered, sounding tired and sorrowful. “Mr. Potter, what do you suggest we do?”


“She and Ron are getting on,” he muttered. “Sort of moving along like usual. Which means nearly not at all like any sane relationship I’ve ever seen.”


“Yes, about that,” Snape said smoothly. “You might want to tell your good friend Mr. Weasley that if he doesn’t want to get caught that he might want to put in some effort by not shacking up with Miss Brown in Hermione’s apartment when she isn’t there like it was a hotel.”


“Gods no,” Harry said. “He didn’t!”


“He did,” Snape shot back. “I found them there when I was looking for her. Thank Merlin, she has taken to spending as much time here as she can.”


Hermione stirred on the bed, waking slowly. “Is the potion ready?”


“Yes, but you aren’t,” Severus answered her. “You need to eat a full meal and sleep at least nine hours. I’ll force feed you the dreamless sleep, witch. Just see if I don’t.”


“I’ll do what I must,” she answered calmly.


She ate, slept, and contemplated the future for the next two days. She never once doubted that what she was about to do was right or wrong. Hermione’s only thought was concern about her first time with a man she barely knew. It would turn out fine, she told herself more than once. Getting him back was what mattered most.


It wasn’t until she stepped in front of the Veil that she felt a trickle of fear. She took a deep breath as she began to prepare. Flower blossoms were mixed with a fidelity and locating potions. The first to pull at Sirius’s heart and the second to find the man himself. It wouldn’t do to pull any old person out, she thought as she used wandless magic to toss the flowers. Different colored rose pedals, orange blossoms, lavender, and vanilla orchids were in the mix all of them representing her and their bond.


She walked up to the Veil and tossed the flowers in a hand full at a time as she began to chant the spell. Handful after handful she tossed into the unknown, and with each one becoming more frightened that it wasn’t going to happen. It was with the last handful that Hermione finally let the fear get to her and broke off the chant.


In one last urgent bid she yelled, “Sirius! Where are you! I’m lost without…”


Before she had finished the sentence, Sirius Black fell into her grabbing a hold of her, taking them both to the ground. He was shivering in her arms as she was trying desperately to see if he was hurt.


“Her-mi-nee…” he stammered her name as she raked back his long tangle of black hair. “Nearly…gone.”


“I know,” she whispered. “One last step, Sirius. I-I don’t know if this is going to hurt…”


“Do it,” he muttered. “Now. Quick.”


Her hand went over his heart and in a puff of smoke she vanished. Sirius’s eyes went wide as he felt his skin burning. He screamed in pain at first. To the others there it sounded as if they could hear Hermione screaming in pain as well. It took Snape and Lupin holding Harry back from going to his godfather. The screaming subsided and soon Sirius was lying on the ground smiling absently as his hand went to the new scar on his chest. He absently stroked the newly formed brand on his skin all but purring with contentment.


The others went over to him, Remus helping him to his feet first with Harry’s help. He smiled at all of them, but stopped short when he saw Severus there. Frowning he didn’t say a word for a time, leaving the others there wondering if he was feeling Hermione’s influence.


“She tells me that I wouldn’t be standing here without your help,” he muttered at last.


“True,” Snape answered. “Doesn’t mean I like you any better.”


“Same here,” he replied back. “But thanks all the same.”

***

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