From the Past

Sirius woke slowly. His head hurt like a bastard and his tongue was in serious need of a shave. With a groan he rolled onto his side, grabbed the other pillow and slammed it down on his head hoping the pressure would dull the sharp ache.

He knew what was coming and wished to Merlin that it wouldn't. He didn't want to remember. It was him, younger him but the ache in his chest stung sharper then the ache in his head. Sirius did not want to remember his younger self with Hermione, making love to Hermione. It was too much to bear.

A moment passed then another and when nothing happened he breathed a sigh of relief only to cry out when the first flash hit sending pain through his mind.

Hermione in that uniform - Talking to him - telling him that a relationship would be unthinkable - Her concern at losing his older self as a friend… Everything blurred.

It seemed the alcohol and hangover were clouding the memories. Sirius would have been relieved if not for the searing pain. He groaned.

Talking and laughing - talking to Snape - The fight.

Sirius cringed at Hermione's stricken expression. Still it was odd that she reacted so strongly. Before he could dwell on the meaning another flash hit.

They were making out on her bed. "The only time he see's me is when he needs something."

Was that what she thought? Sure she was the first person he thought of when there was trouble but… He cried out again.

Hermione was at his door and looking so beautiful in the moonlight. - He felt her mouth, her hands, her body - The memory faded in and out, a blur of kisses and touches and a hot flush of arousal.

Then they were fighting again. Sirius couldn't hear what they were saying. He could feel his frustration and an edge of jealousy. Jealous about what? They yelled again and Hermione looked so sad for a moment before slamming the door and leaving him alone.

At least he wasn't the only one with his foot in his mouth. Turned out Black wasn't so damn slick either… Sirius blinked and chuckled to himself. Merlin, he was jealous of himself. How crazy was that!

He saw Hermione's expression again and sobered. Sirius couldn't remember ever seeing her look that way. It was as though the sadness was coming from somewhere deep inside. What ever Black had said it had hit her where it hurt most.

"Shit!" He swore as he got out of bed and pulled on his pants. He just couldn't stop hurting her.

Maybe it was better that she left. This infatuation he had with Hermione was becoming pathetic. Maybe it was time he moved on. He inspected his reflection and nodded. Yeah, he was no young buck but he still looked pretty damn good. He'd stayed fit while other wizards grew flabby, his face had a much more mature and distinguished edge that he didn't have before. He grinned. Oh yeah and he could still dazzle'em with a smile.

All except her, that was…

Hermione breathed a sigh of relief as she sat in the Black library with the first of the three books she had taken from Hogwarts. After hearing that there were two Sirius Blacks on the premises, Fred and George had come running and quickly whisked both men away for drinks and man talk.

She smiled, the twins were the only ones to know about her feelings for Sirius, and she was thankful that they had come to her rescue. She was never going to solve this problem while the older and younger Sirius were hanging around.

Taking a long sip of coffee, she started flicking through pages. Time passed, an hour then two. After three hours she had narrowed it down to three possibilities and two of them involved Black being a drunk moron and swallowing something he shouldn't have.

Just then a large raven poked it's head through the window and gave a loud distinct, "Krak!" Then flew down onto the desk and dropped a large black envelope onto her notepad.

HermioneMiss. Granger,

If you are still working on sending the mutt back to his own time I have some time of my own. Let me know if I can be of assistance.

a smile she replied:Severus,

I would very much appreciate your assistance. You're company would also be welcome.

H.Ten minutes later there was a loud knock at the door and Severus swept in to the library and quickly made himself at home behind the desk. He perused her notes with an approving sniff before looking up to greet her.

"Do you have the memory of the moments just before young Black apparated?" Severus said smoothly.

Hermione blinked. "The memory?"

"Yes, Miss. Granger." He raised his brow expectantly. "So that we may watch it within the pensive, that way we can see exactly what happened and know which of these," he swept his hand over her notes. "Is correct."

"Of course!" Hermione slapped her forehead and sat heavily in the seat across from him. "Why the hell didn't I think of that?"

Severus didn't answer right away and seemed to be picking his words. "Perhaps you were otherwise distracted."

He picked up the first of the books, feeling the weight of the volume in his hands. "Tell me, what do know for sure."

Hermione told him what Black had told her about the party, apparition home and turning up in the future. It sounded so simple really and yet the result had till now, been thought impossible. Of course the first rule Hermione had learned upon entering the wizarding world was that almost noting was impossible.

Severus nodded, deep in thought and flicked through the book and for another hour and another they sat in silence both reading and jotting down various possibilities until the sun began to sink.

"What the fuck is he doing in my house!" Black's voice roared from the library doorway.

Severus leapt to his feet, wand drawn. The two men scowled at one another before Hermione lunged between them.

"Black calm down," Hermione said tersely before turning to Severus. "You, put that wand away."

Black sneered, almost Malfoy-like at Hermione and leaned against the doorframe. "Didn't take you long to find another wizard to ride, did it?"

"Watch your mouth, mutt," Severus spat.

"How dare you say that to me!" Hermione raged at Black, oblivious to the others entering the library. "And what business is it of yours anyway!" She slammed the book closed and threw it onto the desk. "According to you the only thing I'm good for is a one-night-stand."

"Whoa!" Ginny suddenly burst in. "You slept with Black?"

"You what!" Both Harry and Ron yelled together.

Black gritted his teeth and grabbed her arm, pulling her closer. "I didn't mean what I said last night, the way you think."

"Get your hands off her now." Another, dangerously calm voice joined the group and Hermione looked up to see Sirius standing in the doorway.

SHIT! Hermione's face flushed. She couldn't look at him. What must he think of her? He already thought she was a sad, desperate adolescent, was it even possible for his opinion to drop any further? Merlin, what about Harry and Ron?

And all at once it was too much. Hermione wrenched her arm out of Black's grip, shoved passed Sirius and made her way out the front door.

Outside in the fresh air her vision blurred and she drew her wand. She had to get away, just for a bit.

"Hermione!" The door opened behind her and she could hear Sirius calling after her but couldn't tell which one - not that it mattered really. "Hermione, wait!"

With a POP! She was gone.

Sirius let out a long breath and leaned against the doorframe, looking out at the spot where Hermione had been just moments before. She had finally done it, she'd left him.

He could hear the angry voices inside and let out a long very tired sigh and turned back inside.

"I knew it!" Ron was yelling. "I knew you two were sleeping together."

"I can't believe you took advantage of my best friend!" Harry yelled.

Both were facing Black, their faces red and angry.

"Oi!" Black returned. "I didn't take advantage of anyone, and we aren't together - Why aren't you yelling at him!" He pointed an accusing finger at Severus who stood to his full height glaring at the younger man.

"Alright!" Sirius roared, satisfied when the room went silent. He looked to Harry and Ron and said, "You two, out - Go to the pub or something."

"We don't have to…!" Ron's outraged voice drifted off under Sirius' glare.

Harry nodded at his godfather and grabbed Ron. "Come on, mate - We'll go have a pint at the Leaky, yeah?"

The two left and Sirius immediately turned on Black. "What the fuck?"

"What have I done now?" Black responded, holding his hands up in mock surrender. "Look, she came to me, alright? I didn't take advantage of her and she was no bloody virgin so lay off, yeah."

"Ahem." Severus chose that moment to bring the attention back to himself. "As riveting as this conversation is bound to be, if I listen any more I fear my brain may dissolve. So if you don't mind…" He let his words hang and headed for the door.

"Oh no." Black turned on Snape. "I'm not done with you yet, Snape. What the fuck are you even doing here?"

Snape looked down his nose at the younger replica of his old rival. "I think the correct question, Black, is where, the fuck, were you and why, the fuck, weren't you here helping Miss. Granger?" Snape imitated Blacks vulgar language with distain.

"What?"

"This is your problem, caused by you and you alone, Black. It has nothing what-so-ever to do with Hermione." He held up a single long-fingered hand to halt the younger and the older's interruption. "And yet, here she sat for a good three hours before I arrived and we together sat here working on your problem until you came barging in."

"What's your point?" Black sneered.

"My point, you stupid little whelp, is that a beautiful young woman was cooped up in this dank library all day today, while outside the sky was blue and the birds were, as they say, singing. She sat here all day flicking through page after page of the most boring, mind-numbing text on magical time control and Arithmancy when she could have been out there in the world, living her life. The question you need to be asking is why."

Black rolled his eyes. "She said she liked research and all that swotty shit."

"And I liked a rich full bodied brandy but Merlin knows that I wouldn't want to spend all day gulping the stuff down by the bottle-full." Snape shook his head but he was no longer looking at Black, his was staring straight at Sirius. "What is it with you wealthy purebloods. You have the whole world at your feet, you always have. Even at Hogwarts you were combing the girls out of your hair, you had real friends that the rest of us could only dream of and the good looks and charm to go with it. But it was never enough, was it? You always wanted more, always needed more."

"Ah, Blood Hell, Snape!" Sirius yelled. "Will you give me some slack. I don't want anything from anyone. I just want this lecherous wanker out of my hair."

"Oi!"

"Shut up!" Both Severus and Sirius yelled at Black together before exchanging an uncomfortable nod.

Snape sighed. "I think that Miss. Granger and I have narrowed the possibilities down to three. If you would be willing to show me the memory of the night you arrived I think that I can successfully send you back."

"And why would you do that?" Black stepped up close to Snape, tipping his head to the side.

"Well isn't it obvious?" Snape pulled him self to his full height and sneered down at Black. "I want you gone and I want Hermione safe." He paused their interruption again. "As unbelievable as it may seem I have no lecherous intentions towards the young woman. But I do care about her, for too many reasons then a dunderhead like you would ever understand. She might not carry her feelings on her sleeve for the world to see and understand but that doesn't mean that they are not there or that they can not be damaged."

"Shit," Sirius swore and sat down heavily in his chair then glared up at his younger self. "What the fuck did you say to her? I'm remembering bits and pieces but I drank an awful lot last night. Since when were we bastards in the morning? No woman has ever left our room not smiling."

"I wasn't a bastard! And yes I am very aware of our track record, and our ritual of no promises no broken hearts."

Severus groaned and sat back behind the desk, this could take a while and he could feel his brain evaporating.

Black and Sirius glared at one another for another moment before Sirius spoke again. "Let me get this clear, Hermione isn't just some bit of skirt."

"You think I don't know that!" Black growled. "She's amazing and not just in the sack, I'm crazy about her. Fuck, pops, I didn't mean to bloody hurt her. I just…"

"You just what?'

"She wouldn't let it go, she was so damned worried about you finding out. What the hell does it matter she's leaving anyway! But she kept going on and on about how important you were to her and how much she cares about you."

Sirius looked up startled, his heart suddenly beating faster and his blood rushing. "She said that?"

"Well yeah! She wouldn't quit, it was like I wasn't even real to her."

"Oh, for Merlin's sake, will you stop thinking about yourself for one moment." Sirius ran his fingers through his hair tersely, his mind working too fast to follow. "Haven't you noticed anything since you've been here? We're all friends; have been for a long time now, she saved my life and she's always been there when I…" He took a deep shuddering breath. "She's important to me as well."

"Could have fooled me, pops," Black scoffed.

"What?"

"Well you said it; you said she was out of your league, remember?"

"I was talking about you being out of her league and I didn't even mean it!"

"Not what she thought. She made it pretty damn clear that she thought you were talking about yourself. She thought you meant that she was out of your league. She thinks you only notice her when you need something."

"Well that's not true!" Sirius shouted then felt suddenly out of breath. It wasn't possible, surely he couldn't be so obtuse; he had never lacked knowledge when it came to women…

A loud groan came from behind a large book, which Severus dropped with a loud thump. "I can't believe I'm saying this, and if anyone asks I didn't help and we never spoke."

"What is it now?" Black sneered.

Severus ignored the younger and spoke to the older. "In all the years you have known Miss. Granger have you ever known her to sleep with a man she barely knew?"

"No," Sirius spoke quietly. "She's no player, from what I've noticed she needs some kind of solid relationship in place, some deep respect and affection to be involved."

"Would the Hermione you know simply fall into bed with the younger you, if they had just met as strangers."

"You know I am quite the ladies man," Black interrupted. "And I can be very persuasive when I want to be, especially when a pretty lady is involved."

Sirius ignored him. "No, she would never fall for my old tricks."

"Oi!" Black raged. "I didn't use any bloody tricks. I was just attentive and open and honest. It was like she had been waiting for me to show up and…"

Both Sirius and Black looked at one another for a long moment. And for the first time the older and younger minds were completely in tune.

On the other side of town, Hermione silently unlocked and opened the door to her parent's house. They had not lived here for many years now but Hermione could not bring herself to sell.

Slowly she walked through the silent hallway and inwardly thanked the Hogwarts house-elves who frequently popped by to dust and air the old house out. She should have moved back in here years ago, she could have, there was no longer any threat and the only people in the wizarding world who knew about the house were her closest friends.

Hermione walked into her parent's room, drew the curtains on the already setting sun and crawled up onto the bed.

"I had a bad dream, Mamma," she sobbed and pulled a pillow onto its side so she could wrap her arms around it.

As her eyes drifted closed she could almost feel her mother's hand stroking her hair. "Never mind, dearest. Blue skies in the morning."

AN:

1. Two chapters to go *giggle*

2. Question - Is it incest if they are the same man? *raised brow*