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Disclaimer: I don’t own Harry Potter or any of the characters, I just like to play with them
St. Mungo’s
Sirius stood in the reception area of St. Mungo’s, Hermione had gone still in his arms but she was still breathing. The shallow breaths she was taking in were well spaced out and appeared to be a real effort for her. Harry was speaking to the Welcome Witch and it was taking too long. Remus had his eyes on Sirius, it wouldn’t do for him to lose his temper here. He spoke quietly to Sirius, trying to distract him from the wait. Andromeda still had the ring in her fingers, she was anxious because she didn’t think Hermione had much time. Sirius shifted Hermione in his arms slightly and took a step forward, he was going to speak when Harry motioned him to follow. Sirius hurried to pull up along side him.
“They’re sending us to the fourth floor,” said Harry quietly.
The four of them took to the stairs with Sirius in the lead. He sprinted up the stairs with Hermione in his arms, not using magic because he was afraid of a reaction. They burst into the ward, a healer took one look at Hermione and realized how much danger she was in. She muttered something murderous about the Welcome Witch under her breath as she took control of the situation. Sirius gave Hermione into the hospital’s care, a team of healers took her into a room and closed the door. He was vaguely aware of the hospital staff speaking to him, telling him they would do their best for her.
Andromeda spoke quietly to Healer Hesper Stromwell who was in charge, she gave a brief explanation about the ring and the curse. Andromeda couldn’t explain why Hermione wasn’t dead, she certainly should be. No muggleborn should have been able to touch that ring and live.
“That curse hasn’t been seen for years. How on earth did she come in contact with it?” There was a hardness to the healer’s tone.
Andromeda explained the situation, that it was an accident, that no one had meant Hermione any harm. It was a gift, given in honest act of sheer witlessness.
The healer took a glance at Sirius, she shook her head. “I don’t know how that young girl is alive.” Sirius watched as Healer Stromwell entered the room where they were treating Hermione.
Sirius listened in to the conversation between Andromeda and the Healer Stromwell. He knew his twisted family was paranoid about maintaining blood purity, he never thought they would curse a ring of their own. Andromeda walked over to Sirius and lay a comforting hand on his shoulder.
“They’re doing their best for her, Sirius. I’m sure she’ll pull through.” She was still in shock that Sirius would give a family ring to his muggleborn wife. Especially an engagement ring, there were no limits to what their family would do to maintain blood purity. Sirius was the eldest, the Heir, Walburga would have wanted a guarantee that he not sully the bloodline.
“I didn’t know, I swear I didn’t know.” Sirius took a step back and sunk into one of the rickety wooden chairs, which creaked under his weight. He put his head in his hands and took a shaky breath. This was supposed to be the happiest time of his life, instead his sweet wife was fighting for her life, because of him. Harry and Remus each took a seat beside him, there was nothing they could do except wait.
Andromeda took pity on Sirius and held her tongue. She wanted to ask him what he was thinking about. It wasn’t exactly a secret that the Black rings were cursed. It was a source of pride that only a pureblood witch could wear a family ring. “There are so many cursed things in that house, someday, someone should just burn it to the ground.” Sirius laughed ruefully at her words.
Healer Stromwell walked out of Hermione’s room and over to where the four of them were sitting. She asked Sirius and Andromeda to join her in a private office. She closed the door and sat behind her desk, a rather grim look on her face. Are you certain that the Toujours Pur curse was all that was on that ring? We’ve detected another spell but we can’t get it to reveal itself.
Andromeda wore a perplexed look on her face. “Not unless Aunt Walburga added something.”
“Is she still living? We can get the ministry involved in this, this is attempted murder.” Healer Stromwell was ready to see someone thrown into Azkaban for this.
“No, she’s been dead for some time but her portrait hangs in my home.” Sirius couldn’t believe his family was still hurting him, from the grave no less.
“Do you think you could get her to tell you anything? I know it’s a long shot with these types of curses but it may be all we have to go on.” Healer Stromwell had read of this curse when she was in training. It was associated with old pureblood families.
“It looks like I need to go have a little chat with my dear mother.” Sirius stood to excuse himself but the healer asked if she could have a private word with him. Andromeda patted him reassuringly on the shoulder as she left the room. Before she left Sirius asked her for the ring. She closed the door quietly behind her.
Healer Stromwell conjured a form, a quill and a pot of ink. She paused before speaking, hating what she was about to say. “Mr. Black, I’m sorry…your wife, she doesn’t have much time. She’s been asking for you, we’re sorry we kept you away, we were doing everything we could for her. Her body just isn’t responding.”
Sirius jumped out of his chair, he wasn’t willing to let the healer’s words be true. “There has to be something you can do!” The healer pushed back in her chair, the man in front of her had a desperate, haunted look in his eyes. “I can’t lose her,” he whispered, unashamed of the tears that drew lines along his face.
“There is one last thing we can try but we’re going to need your signed permission. There are no guarantees, the cure may be nearly as damaging as the curse.” The look of desperation told her he would go for it, that he would move heaven and earth if he could. Sirius took the paper and the quill and quickly signed.
“Why don’t you go see her before we get started. We have to wait on an expert in reversing Dark Curses. It will be awhile once we’re underway.” The healer opened the door for Sirius. “If you could learn anything from your mother’s portrait, it might be helpful.”
Sirius stepped out of the office and into the hallway, he was greeted by Molly Weasley who had brought Hermione’s parents for him. The hospital hadn’t told them anything yet, they only knew that something had happened to Hermione. It was with a heavy heart and a voice that teetered on breaking that Sirius explained the situation.
The Granger’s didn’t know what to say, they didn’t understand magic. Sirius noted that they didn’t seem to understand the seriousness of the situation and he was unwilling to spell it out. Sirius brought Hermione’s parents into her room with him. Something essential in Sirius began to break down when he looked at his wife. Her eyes had lost their sparkle although she did brighten the smallest bit at seeing him. Her color was gray, when she tried to speak she went into a coughing fit.
He picked up her tiny hand in his and noted that it was cold, so very cold. He lifted it to his mouth and kissed it ever so softly. She tried to smile but it came off as more of a grimace. It was clear that she was weak and in a great deal of pain.
“I love you.” Hermione tried to respond but he shushed her. “I know you love me, too.” She gave his hand a small squeeze.
Hermione’s mother and father walked around to the other side of the bed, her mother was trying desperately to hold it together. Hermione looked like she could slip away at any moment. Sirius conjured chairs for all three of them, they kept Hermione company, talking to her as if nothing so dire was happening. Sirius held one of Hermione’s hands, her mother held the other.
Harry, Remus and Andromeda sat outside the hospital room, their eyes were trained on Hermione’s door. Molly Weasley was pestering the staff for information. Every time a healer would walk out they would look up hopefully but none of the healers would meet their eyes. Molly personally spoke to each one, trying desperately to glean information. They watched as potions were measured and brought into her, an important looking member of the hospital staff entered the room. He was in there for quite a while before reemerging.
Harry couldn’t look at the door anymore, he stood up to stretch his legs. He turned down the hallway, the opposite way from Hermione’s door, he looked up and saw someone familiar.
Gliding down the hallway, his robes billowing about him was his potions professor.
Severus Snape ignored Harry entirely as he was greeted by Healer Stromwell. He looked over at Remus, his expression was one of utter distaste. Remus nodded to Snape in greeting which the other man discounted completely.
Healer Stromwell led Snape into Hermione’s room. Harry pointed to what was apparently an obscenity to him, he looked accusingly at Remus.
“Aren’t you going to say something? She’s been touched by a Dark Curse, they shouldn’t let him anywhere near her.”
Remus let out a tired sigh. “Harry, no one knows more about reversing Dark Curses than Snape. He has more experience than any of the staff at the hospital.”
“She’s in good hands, now Harry,” reassured Molly.
“But…its…” Harry was struggling for words. “He hates her and he’d like to see her husband dead.”
“He’s unpleasant, I know. I truly do, but he is her best hope.”
Harry would never understand how Remus could place faith in someone like Snape just because he was in the Order. He slumped back into his chair, watching as the door to Hermione’s room was quietly closed.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
The door to Hermione’s room opened, Sirius looked up, the surprise was clear on his face. Like Remus he knew that Snape was rather gifted when it came to reversing Dark Curses, that’s not why he was surprised. He was surprised that Snape had come at all. The enmity between himself and Snape was decades old and judging by what the boys told him, Severus was no fan of Hermione.
Healer Stromwell introduced Snape as the expert they had been waiting on. She asked Sirius and Hermione’s parents to give him some room to work. In an act of great humility Sirius stood up and looked Snape in eye. “Thank you for coming.”
Snape wouldn’t embarrass himself in front of Healer Stromwell by gloating but inwardly this was a moment of great pleasure for him. He merely inclined his head to Sirius in acknowledgement as Sirius left the room. Hermione’s mother stooped to lay one more kiss on her daughter’s forehead before she left.
Once they were in the hallway they were met with hopeful expressions. Harry noted that Sirius was just like the healers who came and went, he wouldn’t meet his eyes. Sirius didn’t have any answers but he knew where he might get some. He pulled Molly Weasley to the side and explained what he had to do. He asked her if she wouldn’t mind keeping her parents company while they all waited. She graciously agreed, thankful that she could be useful.
Remus looked up, he had been trying to answer the Grangers questions about curses. It was evident that they weren’t being told the whole story. The Grangers had a vaguely ‘well, its just magic how bad could it be’ attitude. It wasn’t down to him to explain the dire situation their daughter was in so he did what everyone else had, he danced.
It wasn’t until he looked up that he realized that Sirius was no where to be found. He looked questioningly at Molly.
“He went to headquarters, to get some answers from his mother’s portrait.” Molly’s voice held no hint of alarm.
Harry had been getting information from Andromeda about the curse when he heard Molly speak. He and Remus exchanged a distressed look. Both men struck out at a run for the doors that led to the stairs.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Sirius held himself together until he made it to the street outside the hospital. There he leaned heavily against the wall and howled out his sorrow. He sunk to his knees in great, shaking sobs. He struggled to get his grief under control, only managing to do so by replacing it with anger. Without looking to see if any muggles were nearby he disappeared with a soft ‘pop’.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Remus and Harry made it to the street in time to see Sirius Disapperate. They followed suit and landed in time to see Sirius blow the door to number twelve, Grimmauld Place off its hinges. Sirius stood in the doorway for a moment. He had held himself in check while at St. Mungo’s but now his anger had run far out of his ability to control it. The air around him crackled as he walked into his childhood home.
Remus and Harry were a step behind him, neither man knew quite what to do. They had both seen Sirius angry but there was something more dangerous to this. It was clear to them both that Sirius had lost control.
Sirius ripped off the curtains covering his mother’s portrait and let them fall carelessly to the ground.
“YOU!” She shrieked.
“That’s right mother, me! We’re going to have a little chat, you and I.” Sirius sounded calm to Harry’s ears but there was something about his voice that was making the hair on his neck stand on end. He and Remus stood in the doorway, both afraid to get too close to Sirius.
“How dare you take that tone with me, you ungrateful brat, you blood traitor.” The portrait shrieked at Sirius.
“Well, since you so conveniently bring it up, let’s talk about blood purity, mother.” Remus could smell the fury wafting off of Sirius, it was only a matter of time before it broke.
“What do you know about it, letting that filth into my home, the home of my fathers…” Sirius cut her rant off with an icy, bored tone of voice.
“Do you remember the ring, mother? The one you showed me before I left for Hogwarts.” Sirius held the ring up for her to inspect.
“How dare you! You have no right…”
“I’m the Heir mother, remember? I have every right.”
“My dear, sweet Regulus...my only son…” Sirius cut her off with a derisive snort.
“Oh, yes…let’s weep over Regulus some more. Dear, sweet, brainless Regulus, blindly following your beliefs to his death.”
“Don’t you speak ill about your dead brother…”
“I’ve been dead, I’ll speak ill of them if I wish.”
“Sirius!” Remus spoke in a tight, harsh voice. “The ring, the curse.”
Walburga heard Remus, whatever she was about to say to Sirius was lost on her lips. There was only one reason why the curse would be an issue. She narrowed her eyes at Sirius, a smile played at the corners of her mouth. “Is she not dead yet?” Her voice was almost sweet and lilting. Walburga’s face held a hint of malevolent amusement, there was the barest hint of a laugh in her tone. Sirius was unprepared for his mother’s open admission of guilt, the shock registered clearly on her face. Walburga basked in the moment before she twisted the knife a little.“I can’t believe you actually gave that ring to a mudblood!”
“DON”T YOU DARE CALL HER THAT!”
“Oh, Is your pathetic heart broken?” Her voice dripped with false sympathy. “How stupid you are. I told you that ring was only for a pureblood girl.” Walburga laughed softly, amused by her only living son’s misery. Her laughter grew louder and louder, a spiteful sneer on her lips.
The walls of number twelve, Grimmauld Place began shaking, Sirius was losing the battle to keep his emotions under control. “There is something more, some other curse. Tell me or I’ll turn you to ash.”
Walburga paused before speaking. “Why not,” she said in a haughty, bored tone of voice.” It doesn’t matter. If she’s still alive she must not have put it on but don’t worry, my son, she’ll be dead before the day is out.” Walburga paused to enjoy the pitiable visage that was her eldest son. “That particular ring has a specially crafted curse on it. If you had done the sensible thing and chosen a pureblood girl that curse would have bound her in obedience to you.”
“Is it harming her?” His voice was tight, controlled.
“It doesn’t have to, haven’t you been listening?” Walburga hadn’t enjoyed herself this much in a long time. “I bet you thought you would show us. Give a ring to a muggleborn that was meant for a pureblood. You never truly considered what that meant, did you?” Walburga cackled in glee, pleased that this situation had worked out so well.
Sirius finally snapped, that piece of his sanity he had been fighting for control over slipped from within his grasp. “You misererable…you heartless…” Sirius raised his wand “Fiendfyrous.” Flames that resembled a Chimera exploded from the tip of Sirius’ wand. Walburga’s portrait disintegrated into a pile of soot.
“Sirius! No!” Lupin rushed forward, dragging Sirius out. Sirius threw the ring into the fire but Lupin batted it back out the house and into the street. “You fool! They’re going to need that ring.”
The flame Chimera multiplied into two and then a flame dragon. The fiery beasts devoured the walls, moving deeper and deeper into the house.
Harry gawked in staggering disbelief. The flames that licked at the house his godfather had gifted him with cavorted about, taking on the form of fiery beasts. Harry didn’t know what to do but it was clear they needed outside help, he left to go and get Dumbledore. If anyone could get this fire under control it was him.
Sirius broke free of Lupin and rushed back into the house, running through and cursing each portrait in turn. The house was soon raging out of control. If she was going to die, he wanted to go with her. He never wanted to be parted with her, not even for a second. He looked around with satisfaction as his childhood home was slowly reduced to ashes. He waited for the flames to take him. Remus rushed up to Sirius and punched him in the face, knocking him out. He roughly dragged Sirius out of the house and into the street. Remus sunk to his knees, his lungs full of ash and smoke, coughing and spitting. Sirius slowly came to, rubbing a sore spot on his face. He looked up from his position on the ground, he stared at the Most Noble and Ancient House of Black and watched it burn.
There were loud, thunderous bangs and pops followed by aftershock waves of light as one by one the fire broke the wards and protections on the house. The fire beasts continued their assault on the house multiplying on themselves as they began to threatening the neighboring muggle homes. Number twelve, Grimmauld place burned, naked to the world, open for anyone to see.
Residents of the neighboring homes poured into the street, scarcely able to comprehend what they were witnessing. Several were rubbing their eyes before taking a second look, as if to confirm the shapes that were frolicking in the burnt out ruin of number twelve.
There were two loud ‘pops’, Harry had returned with Dumbledore. The elderly wizard looked at the former headquarters in utter disbelief. He raised his wand and walked into the house, trying to avoid the flames as he attempted to get the blaze under control.
Moments after Dumbledore entered a team of ministry workers arrived who had been alerted to the fact that magic was being openly witnessed by muggles. They rushed into number twelve, joining in Dumbledore’s attempt to douse the flames. Several patronuses were seen flying from the scene as more help was called in.
Harry looked at his godfather, who was covered in ash and bleeding from the nose. He was grief stricken for Hermione, he truly was but he couldn’t see how burning number twelve was helping matters. Harry got another shock when Remus punched Sirius, again.
“Are you trying to get yourself killed?” Remus tried to shout but it left him with a coughing fit.
“Actually, yeah. Thanks ever so much for ruining that.” Sirius turned away from Remus in time to see Harry’s hurt expression. “Oh, what do you know of it,” snarled Sirius, at his godson.
“What about Hermione?” Harry couldn’t fathom why Sirius would want to leave her at a time when she needed him the most.
“Because,” began Remus, his voice was hard and edgy. “Sirius doesn’t believe she is going to make it.”
“What if she does, Sirius? What if she does and you weren’t there to help her?” Harry paced back and forth, he stood staring at Sirius before lunging at his godfather. Remus pulled Harry away, keeping him from finishing the attack. “So is that it?” Yelled Harry accusingly. “You just give up?” He pushed Remus off of him. “Well, not me. I won’t and you shouldn’t either.”
In the midst of their quarrel their attention was pulled back to the broken, burning house. Dumbledore could be seen trying to tame a tempestuous, fiery dragon that lunged and plunged at the old man. With the help of the ministry the flame Chimeras were contained and doused, all that were left were three flaming dragons. There was a loud groan from Sirius’ childhood home, the top floors were giving way, their supports rapidly reducing to ash.
A second team from the ministry rushed in and managed to pull out the first team and Dumbledore before number twelve collapsed on itself. Once everyone’s safety was assured the second team rushed in. Dumbledore was on his knees, coughing before he collapsed but still conscious.
Sirius pushed his confrontation with Harry out of his mind and watched in fascination as the home of his father’s was utterly destroyed. It took Dumbledore’s weakened condition for him to snap back to reality. He took one last forlorn look at the burning wreck, wishing he were inside it. He was going to have to return to Hermione and say his good bye to her if she wasn’t already gone. He recognized defeat, once again something wonderful was just within his grasp before it was cruelly yanked away.
Harry helped Dumbledore back onto his feet and Apparated the old wizard to St. Mungo’s. A third team from the ministry arrived just as Remus and Sirius disappeared and returned to St. Mungo’s.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Sirius spent the night battling his demons by the side of Hermione’s bed. Hadn’t he been through enough? Life just took and took and gave nothing in return. The happiness he saw in other people’s lives was denied him over and over. Sirius argued his case into the wee hours of the morning. Sirius begged and bargained with unseen forces. He asked the same two things over over, he begged to keep, to be allowed to love her.
Hermione moaned in her bed, stirring the covers. Sirius leaned over and smiled at her, hoping his silent prayers were heard. She smiled back but didn’t say anything, she was just too weak. It was too soon to know if Snape’s efforts had helped. He watched as her eyes fluttered closed as sleep took her. He leaned over the bed and lowered his lips to hers in soft kiss. He stroked his hand over her brow and squeezed her hand in reassurance. The hospital had finally been able to make her comfortable, she wasn’t in any pain. He had no sleep or comfort of any kind as kept watch over his precious, dying wife.
St. Mungo’s
Sirius stood in the reception area of St. Mungo’s, Hermione had gone still in his arms but she was still breathing. The shallow breaths she was taking in were well spaced out and appeared to be a real effort for her. Harry was speaking to the Welcome Witch and it was taking too long. Remus had his eyes on Sirius, it wouldn’t do for him to lose his temper here. He spoke quietly to Sirius, trying to distract him from the wait. Andromeda still had the ring in her fingers, she was anxious because she didn’t think Hermione had much time. Sirius shifted Hermione in his arms slightly and took a step forward, he was going to speak when Harry motioned him to follow. Sirius hurried to pull up along side him.
“They’re sending us to the fourth floor,” said Harry quietly.
The four of them took to the stairs with Sirius in the lead. He sprinted up the stairs with Hermione in his arms, not using magic because he was afraid of a reaction. They burst into the ward, a healer took one look at Hermione and realized how much danger she was in. She muttered something murderous about the Welcome Witch under her breath as she took control of the situation. Sirius gave Hermione into the hospital’s care, a team of healers took her into a room and closed the door. He was vaguely aware of the hospital staff speaking to him, telling him they would do their best for her.
Andromeda spoke quietly to Healer Hesper Stromwell who was in charge, she gave a brief explanation about the ring and the curse. Andromeda couldn’t explain why Hermione wasn’t dead, she certainly should be. No muggleborn should have been able to touch that ring and live.
“That curse hasn’t been seen for years. How on earth did she come in contact with it?” There was a hardness to the healer’s tone.
Andromeda explained the situation, that it was an accident, that no one had meant Hermione any harm. It was a gift, given in honest act of sheer witlessness.
The healer took a glance at Sirius, she shook her head. “I don’t know how that young girl is alive.” Sirius watched as Healer Stromwell entered the room where they were treating Hermione.
Sirius listened in to the conversation between Andromeda and the Healer Stromwell. He knew his twisted family was paranoid about maintaining blood purity, he never thought they would curse a ring of their own. Andromeda walked over to Sirius and lay a comforting hand on his shoulder.
“They’re doing their best for her, Sirius. I’m sure she’ll pull through.” She was still in shock that Sirius would give a family ring to his muggleborn wife. Especially an engagement ring, there were no limits to what their family would do to maintain blood purity. Sirius was the eldest, the Heir, Walburga would have wanted a guarantee that he not sully the bloodline.
“I didn’t know, I swear I didn’t know.” Sirius took a step back and sunk into one of the rickety wooden chairs, which creaked under his weight. He put his head in his hands and took a shaky breath. This was supposed to be the happiest time of his life, instead his sweet wife was fighting for her life, because of him. Harry and Remus each took a seat beside him, there was nothing they could do except wait.
Andromeda took pity on Sirius and held her tongue. She wanted to ask him what he was thinking about. It wasn’t exactly a secret that the Black rings were cursed. It was a source of pride that only a pureblood witch could wear a family ring. “There are so many cursed things in that house, someday, someone should just burn it to the ground.” Sirius laughed ruefully at her words.
Healer Stromwell walked out of Hermione’s room and over to where the four of them were sitting. She asked Sirius and Andromeda to join her in a private office. She closed the door and sat behind her desk, a rather grim look on her face. Are you certain that the Toujours Pur curse was all that was on that ring? We’ve detected another spell but we can’t get it to reveal itself.
Andromeda wore a perplexed look on her face. “Not unless Aunt Walburga added something.”
“Is she still living? We can get the ministry involved in this, this is attempted murder.” Healer Stromwell was ready to see someone thrown into Azkaban for this.
“No, she’s been dead for some time but her portrait hangs in my home.” Sirius couldn’t believe his family was still hurting him, from the grave no less.
“Do you think you could get her to tell you anything? I know it’s a long shot with these types of curses but it may be all we have to go on.” Healer Stromwell had read of this curse when she was in training. It was associated with old pureblood families.
“It looks like I need to go have a little chat with my dear mother.” Sirius stood to excuse himself but the healer asked if she could have a private word with him. Andromeda patted him reassuringly on the shoulder as she left the room. Before she left Sirius asked her for the ring. She closed the door quietly behind her.
Healer Stromwell conjured a form, a quill and a pot of ink. She paused before speaking, hating what she was about to say. “Mr. Black, I’m sorry…your wife, she doesn’t have much time. She’s been asking for you, we’re sorry we kept you away, we were doing everything we could for her. Her body just isn’t responding.”
Sirius jumped out of his chair, he wasn’t willing to let the healer’s words be true. “There has to be something you can do!” The healer pushed back in her chair, the man in front of her had a desperate, haunted look in his eyes. “I can’t lose her,” he whispered, unashamed of the tears that drew lines along his face.
“There is one last thing we can try but we’re going to need your signed permission. There are no guarantees, the cure may be nearly as damaging as the curse.” The look of desperation told her he would go for it, that he would move heaven and earth if he could. Sirius took the paper and the quill and quickly signed.
“Why don’t you go see her before we get started. We have to wait on an expert in reversing Dark Curses. It will be awhile once we’re underway.” The healer opened the door for Sirius. “If you could learn anything from your mother’s portrait, it might be helpful.”
Sirius stepped out of the office and into the hallway, he was greeted by Molly Weasley who had brought Hermione’s parents for him. The hospital hadn’t told them anything yet, they only knew that something had happened to Hermione. It was with a heavy heart and a voice that teetered on breaking that Sirius explained the situation.
The Granger’s didn’t know what to say, they didn’t understand magic. Sirius noted that they didn’t seem to understand the seriousness of the situation and he was unwilling to spell it out. Sirius brought Hermione’s parents into her room with him. Something essential in Sirius began to break down when he looked at his wife. Her eyes had lost their sparkle although she did brighten the smallest bit at seeing him. Her color was gray, when she tried to speak she went into a coughing fit.
He picked up her tiny hand in his and noted that it was cold, so very cold. He lifted it to his mouth and kissed it ever so softly. She tried to smile but it came off as more of a grimace. It was clear that she was weak and in a great deal of pain.
“I love you.” Hermione tried to respond but he shushed her. “I know you love me, too.” She gave his hand a small squeeze.
Hermione’s mother and father walked around to the other side of the bed, her mother was trying desperately to hold it together. Hermione looked like she could slip away at any moment. Sirius conjured chairs for all three of them, they kept Hermione company, talking to her as if nothing so dire was happening. Sirius held one of Hermione’s hands, her mother held the other.
Harry, Remus and Andromeda sat outside the hospital room, their eyes were trained on Hermione’s door. Molly Weasley was pestering the staff for information. Every time a healer would walk out they would look up hopefully but none of the healers would meet their eyes. Molly personally spoke to each one, trying desperately to glean information. They watched as potions were measured and brought into her, an important looking member of the hospital staff entered the room. He was in there for quite a while before reemerging.
Harry couldn’t look at the door anymore, he stood up to stretch his legs. He turned down the hallway, the opposite way from Hermione’s door, he looked up and saw someone familiar.
Gliding down the hallway, his robes billowing about him was his potions professor.
Severus Snape ignored Harry entirely as he was greeted by Healer Stromwell. He looked over at Remus, his expression was one of utter distaste. Remus nodded to Snape in greeting which the other man discounted completely.
Healer Stromwell led Snape into Hermione’s room. Harry pointed to what was apparently an obscenity to him, he looked accusingly at Remus.
“Aren’t you going to say something? She’s been touched by a Dark Curse, they shouldn’t let him anywhere near her.”
Remus let out a tired sigh. “Harry, no one knows more about reversing Dark Curses than Snape. He has more experience than any of the staff at the hospital.”
“She’s in good hands, now Harry,” reassured Molly.
“But…its…” Harry was struggling for words. “He hates her and he’d like to see her husband dead.”
“He’s unpleasant, I know. I truly do, but he is her best hope.”
Harry would never understand how Remus could place faith in someone like Snape just because he was in the Order. He slumped back into his chair, watching as the door to Hermione’s room was quietly closed.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
The door to Hermione’s room opened, Sirius looked up, the surprise was clear on his face. Like Remus he knew that Snape was rather gifted when it came to reversing Dark Curses, that’s not why he was surprised. He was surprised that Snape had come at all. The enmity between himself and Snape was decades old and judging by what the boys told him, Severus was no fan of Hermione.
Healer Stromwell introduced Snape as the expert they had been waiting on. She asked Sirius and Hermione’s parents to give him some room to work. In an act of great humility Sirius stood up and looked Snape in eye. “Thank you for coming.”
Snape wouldn’t embarrass himself in front of Healer Stromwell by gloating but inwardly this was a moment of great pleasure for him. He merely inclined his head to Sirius in acknowledgement as Sirius left the room. Hermione’s mother stooped to lay one more kiss on her daughter’s forehead before she left.
Once they were in the hallway they were met with hopeful expressions. Harry noted that Sirius was just like the healers who came and went, he wouldn’t meet his eyes. Sirius didn’t have any answers but he knew where he might get some. He pulled Molly Weasley to the side and explained what he had to do. He asked her if she wouldn’t mind keeping her parents company while they all waited. She graciously agreed, thankful that she could be useful.
Remus looked up, he had been trying to answer the Grangers questions about curses. It was evident that they weren’t being told the whole story. The Grangers had a vaguely ‘well, its just magic how bad could it be’ attitude. It wasn’t down to him to explain the dire situation their daughter was in so he did what everyone else had, he danced.
It wasn’t until he looked up that he realized that Sirius was no where to be found. He looked questioningly at Molly.
“He went to headquarters, to get some answers from his mother’s portrait.” Molly’s voice held no hint of alarm.
Harry had been getting information from Andromeda about the curse when he heard Molly speak. He and Remus exchanged a distressed look. Both men struck out at a run for the doors that led to the stairs.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Sirius held himself together until he made it to the street outside the hospital. There he leaned heavily against the wall and howled out his sorrow. He sunk to his knees in great, shaking sobs. He struggled to get his grief under control, only managing to do so by replacing it with anger. Without looking to see if any muggles were nearby he disappeared with a soft ‘pop’.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Remus and Harry made it to the street in time to see Sirius Disapperate. They followed suit and landed in time to see Sirius blow the door to number twelve, Grimmauld Place off its hinges. Sirius stood in the doorway for a moment. He had held himself in check while at St. Mungo’s but now his anger had run far out of his ability to control it. The air around him crackled as he walked into his childhood home.
Remus and Harry were a step behind him, neither man knew quite what to do. They had both seen Sirius angry but there was something more dangerous to this. It was clear to them both that Sirius had lost control.
Sirius ripped off the curtains covering his mother’s portrait and let them fall carelessly to the ground.
“YOU!” She shrieked.
“That’s right mother, me! We’re going to have a little chat, you and I.” Sirius sounded calm to Harry’s ears but there was something about his voice that was making the hair on his neck stand on end. He and Remus stood in the doorway, both afraid to get too close to Sirius.
“How dare you take that tone with me, you ungrateful brat, you blood traitor.” The portrait shrieked at Sirius.
“Well, since you so conveniently bring it up, let’s talk about blood purity, mother.” Remus could smell the fury wafting off of Sirius, it was only a matter of time before it broke.
“What do you know about it, letting that filth into my home, the home of my fathers…” Sirius cut her rant off with an icy, bored tone of voice.
“Do you remember the ring, mother? The one you showed me before I left for Hogwarts.” Sirius held the ring up for her to inspect.
“How dare you! You have no right…”
“I’m the Heir mother, remember? I have every right.”
“My dear, sweet Regulus...my only son…” Sirius cut her off with a derisive snort.
“Oh, yes…let’s weep over Regulus some more. Dear, sweet, brainless Regulus, blindly following your beliefs to his death.”
“Don’t you speak ill about your dead brother…”
“I’ve been dead, I’ll speak ill of them if I wish.”
“Sirius!” Remus spoke in a tight, harsh voice. “The ring, the curse.”
Walburga heard Remus, whatever she was about to say to Sirius was lost on her lips. There was only one reason why the curse would be an issue. She narrowed her eyes at Sirius, a smile played at the corners of her mouth. “Is she not dead yet?” Her voice was almost sweet and lilting. Walburga’s face held a hint of malevolent amusement, there was the barest hint of a laugh in her tone. Sirius was unprepared for his mother’s open admission of guilt, the shock registered clearly on her face. Walburga basked in the moment before she twisted the knife a little.“I can’t believe you actually gave that ring to a mudblood!”
“DON”T YOU DARE CALL HER THAT!”
“Oh, Is your pathetic heart broken?” Her voice dripped with false sympathy. “How stupid you are. I told you that ring was only for a pureblood girl.” Walburga laughed softly, amused by her only living son’s misery. Her laughter grew louder and louder, a spiteful sneer on her lips.
The walls of number twelve, Grimmauld Place began shaking, Sirius was losing the battle to keep his emotions under control. “There is something more, some other curse. Tell me or I’ll turn you to ash.”
Walburga paused before speaking. “Why not,” she said in a haughty, bored tone of voice.” It doesn’t matter. If she’s still alive she must not have put it on but don’t worry, my son, she’ll be dead before the day is out.” Walburga paused to enjoy the pitiable visage that was her eldest son. “That particular ring has a specially crafted curse on it. If you had done the sensible thing and chosen a pureblood girl that curse would have bound her in obedience to you.”
“Is it harming her?” His voice was tight, controlled.
“It doesn’t have to, haven’t you been listening?” Walburga hadn’t enjoyed herself this much in a long time. “I bet you thought you would show us. Give a ring to a muggleborn that was meant for a pureblood. You never truly considered what that meant, did you?” Walburga cackled in glee, pleased that this situation had worked out so well.
Sirius finally snapped, that piece of his sanity he had been fighting for control over slipped from within his grasp. “You misererable…you heartless…” Sirius raised his wand “Fiendfyrous.” Flames that resembled a Chimera exploded from the tip of Sirius’ wand. Walburga’s portrait disintegrated into a pile of soot.
“Sirius! No!” Lupin rushed forward, dragging Sirius out. Sirius threw the ring into the fire but Lupin batted it back out the house and into the street. “You fool! They’re going to need that ring.”
The flame Chimera multiplied into two and then a flame dragon. The fiery beasts devoured the walls, moving deeper and deeper into the house.
Harry gawked in staggering disbelief. The flames that licked at the house his godfather had gifted him with cavorted about, taking on the form of fiery beasts. Harry didn’t know what to do but it was clear they needed outside help, he left to go and get Dumbledore. If anyone could get this fire under control it was him.
Sirius broke free of Lupin and rushed back into the house, running through and cursing each portrait in turn. The house was soon raging out of control. If she was going to die, he wanted to go with her. He never wanted to be parted with her, not even for a second. He looked around with satisfaction as his childhood home was slowly reduced to ashes. He waited for the flames to take him. Remus rushed up to Sirius and punched him in the face, knocking him out. He roughly dragged Sirius out of the house and into the street. Remus sunk to his knees, his lungs full of ash and smoke, coughing and spitting. Sirius slowly came to, rubbing a sore spot on his face. He looked up from his position on the ground, he stared at the Most Noble and Ancient House of Black and watched it burn.
There were loud, thunderous bangs and pops followed by aftershock waves of light as one by one the fire broke the wards and protections on the house. The fire beasts continued their assault on the house multiplying on themselves as they began to threatening the neighboring muggle homes. Number twelve, Grimmauld place burned, naked to the world, open for anyone to see.
Residents of the neighboring homes poured into the street, scarcely able to comprehend what they were witnessing. Several were rubbing their eyes before taking a second look, as if to confirm the shapes that were frolicking in the burnt out ruin of number twelve.
There were two loud ‘pops’, Harry had returned with Dumbledore. The elderly wizard looked at the former headquarters in utter disbelief. He raised his wand and walked into the house, trying to avoid the flames as he attempted to get the blaze under control.
Moments after Dumbledore entered a team of ministry workers arrived who had been alerted to the fact that magic was being openly witnessed by muggles. They rushed into number twelve, joining in Dumbledore’s attempt to douse the flames. Several patronuses were seen flying from the scene as more help was called in.
Harry looked at his godfather, who was covered in ash and bleeding from the nose. He was grief stricken for Hermione, he truly was but he couldn’t see how burning number twelve was helping matters. Harry got another shock when Remus punched Sirius, again.
“Are you trying to get yourself killed?” Remus tried to shout but it left him with a coughing fit.
“Actually, yeah. Thanks ever so much for ruining that.” Sirius turned away from Remus in time to see Harry’s hurt expression. “Oh, what do you know of it,” snarled Sirius, at his godson.
“What about Hermione?” Harry couldn’t fathom why Sirius would want to leave her at a time when she needed him the most.
“Because,” began Remus, his voice was hard and edgy. “Sirius doesn’t believe she is going to make it.”
“What if she does, Sirius? What if she does and you weren’t there to help her?” Harry paced back and forth, he stood staring at Sirius before lunging at his godfather. Remus pulled Harry away, keeping him from finishing the attack. “So is that it?” Yelled Harry accusingly. “You just give up?” He pushed Remus off of him. “Well, not me. I won’t and you shouldn’t either.”
In the midst of their quarrel their attention was pulled back to the broken, burning house. Dumbledore could be seen trying to tame a tempestuous, fiery dragon that lunged and plunged at the old man. With the help of the ministry the flame Chimeras were contained and doused, all that were left were three flaming dragons. There was a loud groan from Sirius’ childhood home, the top floors were giving way, their supports rapidly reducing to ash.
A second team from the ministry rushed in and managed to pull out the first team and Dumbledore before number twelve collapsed on itself. Once everyone’s safety was assured the second team rushed in. Dumbledore was on his knees, coughing before he collapsed but still conscious.
Sirius pushed his confrontation with Harry out of his mind and watched in fascination as the home of his father’s was utterly destroyed. It took Dumbledore’s weakened condition for him to snap back to reality. He took one last forlorn look at the burning wreck, wishing he were inside it. He was going to have to return to Hermione and say his good bye to her if she wasn’t already gone. He recognized defeat, once again something wonderful was just within his grasp before it was cruelly yanked away.
Harry helped Dumbledore back onto his feet and Apparated the old wizard to St. Mungo’s. A third team from the ministry arrived just as Remus and Sirius disappeared and returned to St. Mungo’s.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Sirius spent the night battling his demons by the side of Hermione’s bed. Hadn’t he been through enough? Life just took and took and gave nothing in return. The happiness he saw in other people’s lives was denied him over and over. Sirius argued his case into the wee hours of the morning. Sirius begged and bargained with unseen forces. He asked the same two things over over, he begged to keep, to be allowed to love her.
Hermione moaned in her bed, stirring the covers. Sirius leaned over and smiled at her, hoping his silent prayers were heard. She smiled back but didn’t say anything, she was just too weak. It was too soon to know if Snape’s efforts had helped. He watched as her eyes fluttered closed as sleep took her. He leaned over the bed and lowered his lips to hers in soft kiss. He stroked his hand over her brow and squeezed her hand in reassurance. The hospital had finally been able to make her comfortable, she wasn’t in any pain. He had no sleep or comfort of any kind as kept watch over his precious, dying wife.
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