![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Disclaimer: I don’t own Harry Potter or any of the characters, I just like to play with them
Remember
Sirius marched through the reception area at St. Mungo’s, past the Welcome Witch and made straight for the stairs bumping people out of his way as he went. Hermione was still trying to struggle against him and was complaining loudly.
“Sirius! Watch out! You can’t just push people aside!” Hermione wrestled vainly with his arms.
Sirius just glanced at her as he heroically took the stairs with her in his arms, saying nothing. All he could think about was that one more horrible thing was happening to her. He couldn’t stand the thought of losing her again, it almost killed him the last time.
“Sirius, I am fine! Why are you doing this?” Hermione finally gave up and relaxed in his arms.
Sirius burst into the fourth floor and looked around for Healer Stromwell. He shifted Hermione in his arms and strode toward a healer in lime green robes who was checking a chart on a patient’s door.
“Where’s Healer Stromwell?” The expression on his face startled the young healer he was speaking to.
“Just a moment.” She turned on her heel, quickly, in search of Stromwell.
“Sirius, we’re here, can you put me down now? This is getting silly. Look at me…I’m just fine.” Hermione pleaded her case, attempting to reason with him.
“Something is hurting you Hermione, that’s why the necklace is glowing, it’s protecting you from something.” Sirius was sweating the minutes it was taking for the young healer to return with Stromwell.
“Well, that’s not terrific news, I’ll admit…” Hermione forced herself to remain calm. “But it looks like the necklace is doing its job, so why don’t you put me down.”
Sirius looked her over, as if he could spot the damage. He had to admit that she was right so he reluctantly set her down. He pulled Hermione against his body, not willing to let her go very far. She sighed resignedly, understanding his over protective behavior. She leaned her head against his chest. She wondered if there was a curse on one of the letters, maybe the one from Lestrange. Hermione heard a familiar voice and turned around, her face broke into a smile when she saw Professor Dumbledore.
“Professor! How are you?” Hermione would have stepped toward him but Sirius’ arms held her in place. “Sirius! Cut it out!”
“Mrs. Black, what a distinct pleasure! I was just reading about you this morning. What brings you here? Is everything right with you?” Dumbledore walked over to Sirius and Hermione, noting Sirius’ anxious demeanor.
“Something is wrong, we just don’t know what. Are you well, Professor?” Hermione was more concerned for the Headmaster than she was for herself.
“Right as rain, as the muggles say. They just wanted to check up on me, so here I am.” He smiled warmly at Hermione. “So, something is wrong you say? Ah, I see…your necklace, a rare find, very powerful.”
“What does it do? Sirius never said.” Sirius wasn’t paying attention to the conversation, he had his sights trained on the door the young healer had left through. He turned his head toward his companions upon hearing his name.
“What?” He paused and put his finger up, he had just seen Stromwell. He motioned to her and she began to move in their direction. He turned back to Dumbledore and Hermione.
“Your wife was asking what the charm at her neck did.” Dumbledore moved out of the way, a healer was walking by with a patient. The patient’s head was sprouting tentacles that inched their way menacingly toward the healer.
“Did I not tell you?” Hermione shook her head.
“Oh, it wards against physical harm from spell damage. Only a few were ever made, this one has been sitting in Gildingham’s for years.” Sirius turned back to his guard duty. Stromwell had paused to speak to a healer.
“Mrs. Black, what were you doing before the necklace started to glow.” Dumbledore wondered if the answer might be simple or obvious.
“Reading post and eating breakfast.” Hermione turned at the sound of screaming, the healer who had just passed by was under attack from the tentacles. The wizard with the tentacles was struggling to help him.
“Really…post from whom?” Dumbledore watched as Healer Stromwell rushed to the aid of her staff, prying tentacles off his face.
“Let’s see…from the Daughter’s of the International Warlock Convention, Witch Weekly, Glenda Chittock, Cliodna Lestrange and Rita Skeeter.” Hermione ticked off who had sent her post on her hand.
“Well, none of those are likely suspects. Unusual that the Daughter’s would contact a muggleborn but not sinister in respect to this.” He raised his wand. “May I?”
Hermione glanced at Sirius, who was looking in the other direction and nodded. Dumbledore drew complicated patterns in the air, a shimmer surrounded Hermione. Sirius was distracted from glaring at Stromwell to pay attention to what was happening to her. He watched Dumbledore’s face for a reaction. Healer Stromwell finally made it over to Hermione, she paused to wait for Dumbledore to finish.
“Changing professions, Albus?” She chided him for examining one of her patients.
“No, Hesper. Just trying to help a former student while she waited.” He let her know she had taken too long in his opinion. “I think you are going to want to call Severus in and if I may suggest, give Mrs. Black a complete examination.”
“Do you detect something wrong with the Toujours Pur curse?” Alarm was evident in her voice, she had seen Hermione conversing with Dumbledore and had assumed there was nothing urgent. She was committed to all her patients and wouldn’t forgive herself if her delay cost Hermione precious minutes.
“I do not believe that Mrs. Black is in any immediate danger however you are the Healer, I will let you be the judge.” Dumbledore gestured from Stromwell to Hermione.
“Come with me, Mrs. Black.” Healer Stromwell lead Hermione to an examination room. She spoke to her staff, asking them to summon Snape before following Hermione into the exam room and closing the door.
“So tell me, Hermione. How are the migraines and the seizures? They should almost be gone by now.” Healer Stromwell pulled a few implements out of drawers and cabinets and set them all on a side table.
“I haven’t had a migraine in over two weeks and its been a week and a half since my last seizure.” Hermione looked around the dingy little room and wrinkled her nose in distaste.
“That’s about what I expected. Now if you will sit on the end of the exam table we can begin.” The healer patted the end of the table.
Hermione sat on the end of the little exam table and waited patiently for Healer Stromwell to begin. Stromwell stuck the point of her wand in Hermione’s ear and took her temperature. She flicked her wand at a form, recording it. Stromwell put her arm in a funny little cuff with a gage attached. Hermione asked what it was for.
“Blood pressure.” The cuff took seconds to return an answer which was also recorded.
The exam proceeded as one magical medical artifact after another was used to get Hermione’s vital statistics. Her ears and nostrils were examined as was her mouth. Her heartbeat and breathing were monitored and then came the pelvic examination. Hermione always dreaded it when her mother took her to the gynecologist, she wondered if magic would make it less awkward.
Healer Stromwell asked Hermione to change into a gown and then left the room. She disrobed and put the gown on, now dreading that the exam wouldn’t be that much different. There was a brief knock on the door, the healer returned with a potion. She asked Hermione to lie back on the table and relax.
Healer Stromwell pushed the gown up and felt around Hermione’s abdomen. She shied away from the cold hands because they tickled her. Then the healer poured a small amount of thick liquid over the spot where her uterus would be. She watched the changing colors of the potion, her eyebrows went up in surprise.
“My, my…we did catch this early.” Healer Stromwell cleaned the potion off of Hermione’s abdomen.
“Caught what early?” Hermione held her breath.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o00
“Enough with the vague, Albus. What did you detect?” Sirius was feeling dangerous, he was in no mood for Dumbledore’s half answers.
“I believe the barriers that Severus erected in Hermione’s brain are becoming unstable.” Sirius thought Dumbledore didn’t look half as concerned as he ought to.
“And? What else? I know there’s more, there’s always more with you.” Sirius didn’t have the patience to mince his words.
“I believe that the barriers are unstable because they are no longer containing the curse.” Dumbledore’s explanation was delivered very calmly, as though he hadn’t just said that Hermione’s life was in danger.
“WHAT!” Sirius charged toward the exam room Hermione had entered. Dumbledore calmly followed with a little smile on his face.
Sirius unceremoniously threw the door open to rush to his wife’s side, the wife who had just returned to him. What he saw pulled him up short. Hermione was in a half sitting up, half laying down position on the exam table. She looked ecstatic, surprised and scared all at the same time. One hand covered her mouth, the other her stomach. She startled when Sirius entered the room. She looked at him cautiously, like she had something to say but wasn’t sure how it would be received. Healer Stromwell excused herself and closed the door quietly behind her. Hermione’s unsure mien gave Sirius pause, she didn’t have the look of looming tragedy, for which he was very grateful. He walked closer to her, trying to decipher her uncertainty.
“Sirius, I have something to tell you.” She gestured to a chair, indicating the he should sit down. He sat, preparing himself mentally for the worst. “I’m not sure how you’re going to feel about this, I don’t know if we ever talked about it.” Hermione hopped off the table and paced back and forth in front of him as she spoke.
“Talked about what, baby?” He really wished she would skip the preamble and just tell him what was wrong.
She sighed, preparing herself for a bad reaction. Hermione paused in her pacing to stand in front of him. “I’m pregnant.” She braced for him to receive the news poorly.
Sirius wasn’t sure if he had heard her right, she had spoken so quietly. He asked her to repeat herself.
“I’m pregnant, Sirius. We forgot all about birth control last night and this morning.”
Sirius’ face slackened into a look of innocent wonder, the way a very young boy might look at the tree full of presents on Christmas morning. His gaze slid from her eyes to her belly and then back up to her face. He slowly recovered, a huge smile breaking out across his face. He pulled her into his lap and circled his arms around her, hugging her close.
“Really?”
She leaned into his chest, resting her head there. “I wasn’t sure how you would take the news.”
Sirius had always wanted a family but the last few years of his life had him convinced it would never happen. He almost didn’t believe that it was true, that he would even be allowed. His heart nearly burst at the thought; sometime in the very near future he would be a father. He placed his hand over her belly, picturing her swelling with his child, their child. He buried his head in her hair and sighed.
“I’ve never been happier, Hermione. How far along are you?” He couldn’t wait to tell everyone, he wanted to share his happiness with the world.
“Healer Stromwell says it happened in the last few hours.” She thought of their love making that morning and blushed.
“This morning, then?” He noticed the blush and nuzzled her neck affectionately.
“We’re going to be parents, Sirius. Are we ready for this?” Hermione thought she would at least have her NEWTs out of the way, it was all happening a little fast for her.
“We did talk about this once. We looked forward to being parents.” Sirius kissed her temple and gave her a squeeze of reassurance. “I think it’s natural to be nervous.”
“I know it is. I’ve always wanted a family.” She paused thoughtfully and smiled at him. “I think you will be a wonderful father, I really do.” She raised her eyes to his.
“You’re going to be the best mum ever!” He said it with such joy and conviction that she had to laugh, his enthusiasm was infectious. She started to feel her doubt slide away. “Come on, then. Get dressed, we still have to figure out why the necklace is glowing.”
Hermione slid the gown over her head and shied out of reach of his hands. She quickly got dressed, suddenly worried that he might want to baptize the exam table. Hermione folded up the gown and lay it on the table and crawled back onto Sirius’ lap to wait for Healer Stromwell. There was a knock at the door, they chorused ‘come in.’ Snape glided through the door, his eyes falling on Hermione and Sirius. He was followed in by Healer Stromwell who closed the door behind her.
“Why is the barrier unstable?” Sirius took on an almost accusing tone.
“What?” Hermione was clearly alarmed. “Why didn’t you say something, Sirius?” He looked at her apologetically, he’d suddenly had other things on his mind.
“I won’t know that until I examine her, Black.” Snape’s lip curled in a sneer. He asked Hermione to return to the exam table. Healer Stromwell picked up the used gown to make room for her. Hermione climbed back onto the table and lay back. He performed a few movements of his wand around her head, muttering spells under his breath.
“Impossible!” Snape took a few steps back, a look of shock and disbelief on his face.
“What?” Hermione and Sirius spoke in unison.
There was a knock at the door. Healer Stromwell cracked the door to see who it was. Dumbledore was asking if he could come in. She turned to Hermione and Sirius, who were still reacting to Snape’s outburst, to get their permission. They were anxious for all the help they could get and agreed. Dumbledore walked in and smiled at Hermione and Sirius.
“Well?” Sirius snapped at Snape. “What’s impossible?”
Snape recovered from his shock and drew himself up. “I cannot explain how this happened but the Toujours Pur curse is no longer present in Hermione’s brain.”
A pleased look of surprise crossed both Sirius and Hermione’s faces.
“Severus, if I may?” Dumbledore politely asked for the floor, Snape nodded to him.
“I believe that there are congratulations in order, yes?” Dumbledore smiled warmly at Hermione who nodded. She wondered how he knew and then remembered that he had performed some sort of spell on her. “You see Severus, Hermione is expecting.” He got nothing but confused looks so he proceeded to explain. “That curse had but one goal, the prevention of mixed blood in the Black line. That ultimate goal has failed, thus breaking the curse’s power over her.”
“Then, why I am in danger?” Hermione still looked worried and confused.
“With nothing to contain, the barrier has become unstable.” Snape still looked a little shocked.
Healer Stromwell looked between Dumbledore and Snape. “Can you remove it?”
“Certainly.” Snape was beginning to look sour, he had rather enjoyed Sirius’ pain.
“Does that mean I will have my memory back?” Hermione’s voice was tentative but hopeful.
Sirius held his breath, hoping that this wasn’t just a dream.
“Yes. It also means no more migraines and seizures.” Healer Stromwell smiled at the couple, thrilled that their nightmare might soon be over.
“Well…what are you waiting for?” Sirius was anxious to have Hermione returned to him, whole and well once again.
Hermione trembled with excitement, this period of uncertainty and confusion was about to be over. Snape muttered his spell under his breath, moving his wand in complex patterns over head which now had a faint purple glow about it. Hermione slowly became aware of exactly where in her brain the barriers were erected, she could practically touch them with her mind. One by one she felt them dissolve as areas of her mind were freed once again. The largest of these barriers was still intact, Snape was working through the smaller ones first. He paused in his work to speak to her.
“Have you been aware of the barriers as I’ve removed them?” Snape walked around so that she could see his face.
“Yes.” It was comforting to know that it was normal to be so aware of them. She vaguely recollected knowing where they were when they were first put in. That was several weeks ago, it had been awhile since she felt them.
“It is likely you will feel a bit disoriented after I remove the last one. Your memory will return immediately which may come as a bit of a shock.” He returned to his position behind her.
Hermione kept her mind trained on the spot he was working on, she wanted to rush in and remember. She was tired of having to rebuild her life around this blank spot in her mind. Some extremely important things had taken place in those blank spaces and she wanted them back. She wanted to remember falling in love with Sirius and the last battle. Hearing about it or feeling an echo of it just wasn’t good enough for her. Even seeing it in a pensieve was a paltry excuse for the real thing.
Just as had happened before, the barrier became more and more palpable to her and then she was aware of it breaking down. She held her breath as the last of it melted away, she plowed forward. Her mind flooded with images once lost; Harry’s arrival at number twelve, Grimmauld Place, the awkward conversation with Sirius, her first night with him, the long weekend she spent at number twelve, Grimmauld Place, the attack in Hogsmeade, escaping with Sirius, Mexico, nearly dying at Bellatrix’ hand, getting caught in the hallway, the moment they knew would be parents together, Christmas Day, receiving the ring, Sirius at her bedside in the hospital and everything in between. She let her breath out.
Sirius watched with anticipation, trembling, she wasn’t saying anything. She seemed to be absorbed in thought, her brow knit in concentration. And then she breathed. She opened her eyes to look over at him, their eyes met and he knew.
She was back.
Hermione struggled to sit up, Sirius stepped forward and helped her. She had a bit of a headache and wanted to go home. She’d had her fill of hospitals for quite some time. She looked at Sirius, wanting to feel his arms around her. He immediately knew what she needed, he needed it too. Strong arms surrounded her and she sighed, all was right in her world.
“I want to go home.”
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Hermione and then Sirius stepped through the fireplace at number twenty four, Eternal Springs. Remus, Harry and Ron rushed over to greet them. Remus knew that he would find out everything in just a moment, he quietly waited, relieved that Hermione had returned with Sirius. Harry and Ron were less patient, they had a million questions and were asking them all, very hurriedly, all at once. Hermione raised her hand to rub her temples. She smiled weakly at the boys, appreciating their concern but wishing they would just shut up.
“Back off!” Sirius growled at the two teenagers giving them each a dark glare.
Harry and Ron were surprised and chastised by Sirius’ aggression. They smiled their apology to Hermione, both of them looking a bit sheepish.
Hermione patted him on the chest, quietly admonishing him for being so abrupt. They were just concerned for her even if they were a bit over enthusiastic about it. She smiled at all three of them and took a seat on one of her couches. They all took their cue from her and sat, waiting to hear if she was alright or not. She and Sirius exchanged a glance. The look they shared assured him that she was alright and that she would like him to share their news.
“We have great news!” His face broke out into a huge smile. He turned his head to look at Remus specifically. “We’re expecting!”
Remus swallowed a knot of emotion. Sirius had been through so much pain in his life, that things had turned around for him this much gave him great joy. The boyish excitement on Sirius’ face almost reminded him of the youth he knew so many years ago.
“That’s wonderful news, Pads! Congratulations, Hermione!” He tipped his head to her.
“You’re pregnant!” Ron spoke up first, he gave an almost accusatory look to Sirius. He wasn’t sure how he felt about his eighteen year old friend being knocked up. Sirius was too happy to notice Ron.
“That’s great, Hermione!” Harry read the situation correctly. They were happy about this and if they were happy, he was happy for them. “When are you due?”
Hermione smiled at Harry, pleased that he got it right. “Late September.”
“How could this have happened?” Ron’s feelings for Hermione had changed drastically in the last few months. He had gotten over her awhile back and was now dating Lavender Brown. What he felt for her now was more that of a brother to a sister. He was behaving much like he would if he found out Ginny was pregnant.
Hermione blushed brightly. How did he think it happened?
“The usual way.” Sirius was grinning like a loon.
Remus chuckled quietly at Sirius. He gave Ron a puzzled look, not sure what to make of his behavior.
“What’s your problem, Ron?” Harry faced his friend, perplexed as to why Ron couldn’t see this was a good thing. “They’re happy about this.”
Ron looked at Hermione for confirmation, she nodded, smiling, hoping he would catch on.
“Oh. Well, good then.” He still wasn’t sure if he liked it or not. In his mind Hermione should be in school, not making babies.
“We’ve got more news than just that though.” Hermione smiled at Sirius, encouraging him to continue with their story.
“Well, as it turns out, getting Hermione knocked up…” She interrupted him.
“Sirius!”
“Sorry, sweetheart. Maybe you better explain it.”
Hermione sat up a little straighter in her seat. “Well, the way that Professor Dumbledore explained it…”
“Dumbledore? What was he doing there? Is he well?” Remus gave her an apologetic look for interrupting her.
“He’s fine. Finish your story, baby.” Sirius was impatient for them to know that she had her memory back.
“He was just there for a follow up visit, to see how he was doing.” She gave Sirius an exasperated look. “So, he explained that the curse was meant to prevent the mixing of blood, to keep the Black line pure. Since I’m pregnant with Sirius’ child the curse failed in its objective. Getting pregnant broke the curse.”
“That’s…wow, that’s wonderful!” Remus couldn’t believe that the news just kept getting better and better.
“So, you’re not cursed anymore?” Ron could scarcely believe his ears, this was the best news ever. Hermione shook her head in answer to his question.
Harry reached over and squeezed her hand and smiled at her. He knew what it was like to live with the after affects of a curse.
“And now for the best part.” Sirius had their attention. “Because the curse couldn’t hurt her anymore Snape removed the barrier in her brain!” They had forgotten that it was the barrier that caused her memory loss. They gave him puzzled looks, not exactly sure why that was the best part.
“The barrier is what was causing the necklace to glow, without the curse to contain it became unstable. The necklace kept it from hurting me.” Recognition passed over Remus’ face at her words but the boys didn’t know what was special about the necklace. Remus however had been with Sirius the day he bought it.
“The necklace was a protection charm?” Ron looked between Hermione and Sirius, both of them nodded. A look passed over Harry’s face that indicated he understood as well.
“Well, without the barrier…I got my memory back. There will be no more migraines or seizures…” The reality that she was completely whole suddenly overwhelmed Hermione. It was over, it was really over, she had her life back. She started to cry, not even sure why she was crying, she was just so overcome with the enormity of it all.
Their guests were at a loss for what to do. Hermione had just told them the best possible news and broke down into tears. They didn’t even have a chance to congratulate her. Sirius seemed to understand, he put his arm around her and pulled her head to his chest. The boys looked like they might say something however a dark look from Sirius had them keeping their peace. He spoke softly to her as she cried, telling her how happy he was to have her back and how much he loved her. Remus and the boys felt a bit awkward, like they were witnessing something that should have been private. After a few minutes Hermione raised her head and sniffed, she looked over at her company and smiled.
“We need to go see my parents, Sirius.” He nodded, she was right. They had to let them know about all of the good news.
“I’m sorry, Harry, Ron…Sirius and I have to go visit my parents right away. We’ll be back in a little while though if you just want to relax, make yourself at home.” She felt bad that she had gotten almost no time to visit with them.
They assured her that they understood. They were happy to wait until she returned.
“I can’t stay.” Remus gave her a hug. “You see, I have a rather important date with Dora tonight.” He and Sirius exchanged a significant look. Hermione grinned madly at him.
“Good luck, mate.” Sirius winked at his childhood friend. Remus returned a nervous smile and left by floo.
Hermione and Sirius walked out to the backyard and disappeared with a soft ‘pop.’
Remember
Sirius marched through the reception area at St. Mungo’s, past the Welcome Witch and made straight for the stairs bumping people out of his way as he went. Hermione was still trying to struggle against him and was complaining loudly.
“Sirius! Watch out! You can’t just push people aside!” Hermione wrestled vainly with his arms.
Sirius just glanced at her as he heroically took the stairs with her in his arms, saying nothing. All he could think about was that one more horrible thing was happening to her. He couldn’t stand the thought of losing her again, it almost killed him the last time.
“Sirius, I am fine! Why are you doing this?” Hermione finally gave up and relaxed in his arms.
Sirius burst into the fourth floor and looked around for Healer Stromwell. He shifted Hermione in his arms and strode toward a healer in lime green robes who was checking a chart on a patient’s door.
“Where’s Healer Stromwell?” The expression on his face startled the young healer he was speaking to.
“Just a moment.” She turned on her heel, quickly, in search of Stromwell.
“Sirius, we’re here, can you put me down now? This is getting silly. Look at me…I’m just fine.” Hermione pleaded her case, attempting to reason with him.
“Something is hurting you Hermione, that’s why the necklace is glowing, it’s protecting you from something.” Sirius was sweating the minutes it was taking for the young healer to return with Stromwell.
“Well, that’s not terrific news, I’ll admit…” Hermione forced herself to remain calm. “But it looks like the necklace is doing its job, so why don’t you put me down.”
Sirius looked her over, as if he could spot the damage. He had to admit that she was right so he reluctantly set her down. He pulled Hermione against his body, not willing to let her go very far. She sighed resignedly, understanding his over protective behavior. She leaned her head against his chest. She wondered if there was a curse on one of the letters, maybe the one from Lestrange. Hermione heard a familiar voice and turned around, her face broke into a smile when she saw Professor Dumbledore.
“Professor! How are you?” Hermione would have stepped toward him but Sirius’ arms held her in place. “Sirius! Cut it out!”
“Mrs. Black, what a distinct pleasure! I was just reading about you this morning. What brings you here? Is everything right with you?” Dumbledore walked over to Sirius and Hermione, noting Sirius’ anxious demeanor.
“Something is wrong, we just don’t know what. Are you well, Professor?” Hermione was more concerned for the Headmaster than she was for herself.
“Right as rain, as the muggles say. They just wanted to check up on me, so here I am.” He smiled warmly at Hermione. “So, something is wrong you say? Ah, I see…your necklace, a rare find, very powerful.”
“What does it do? Sirius never said.” Sirius wasn’t paying attention to the conversation, he had his sights trained on the door the young healer had left through. He turned his head toward his companions upon hearing his name.
“What?” He paused and put his finger up, he had just seen Stromwell. He motioned to her and she began to move in their direction. He turned back to Dumbledore and Hermione.
“Your wife was asking what the charm at her neck did.” Dumbledore moved out of the way, a healer was walking by with a patient. The patient’s head was sprouting tentacles that inched their way menacingly toward the healer.
“Did I not tell you?” Hermione shook her head.
“Oh, it wards against physical harm from spell damage. Only a few were ever made, this one has been sitting in Gildingham’s for years.” Sirius turned back to his guard duty. Stromwell had paused to speak to a healer.
“Mrs. Black, what were you doing before the necklace started to glow.” Dumbledore wondered if the answer might be simple or obvious.
“Reading post and eating breakfast.” Hermione turned at the sound of screaming, the healer who had just passed by was under attack from the tentacles. The wizard with the tentacles was struggling to help him.
“Really…post from whom?” Dumbledore watched as Healer Stromwell rushed to the aid of her staff, prying tentacles off his face.
“Let’s see…from the Daughter’s of the International Warlock Convention, Witch Weekly, Glenda Chittock, Cliodna Lestrange and Rita Skeeter.” Hermione ticked off who had sent her post on her hand.
“Well, none of those are likely suspects. Unusual that the Daughter’s would contact a muggleborn but not sinister in respect to this.” He raised his wand. “May I?”
Hermione glanced at Sirius, who was looking in the other direction and nodded. Dumbledore drew complicated patterns in the air, a shimmer surrounded Hermione. Sirius was distracted from glaring at Stromwell to pay attention to what was happening to her. He watched Dumbledore’s face for a reaction. Healer Stromwell finally made it over to Hermione, she paused to wait for Dumbledore to finish.
“Changing professions, Albus?” She chided him for examining one of her patients.
“No, Hesper. Just trying to help a former student while she waited.” He let her know she had taken too long in his opinion. “I think you are going to want to call Severus in and if I may suggest, give Mrs. Black a complete examination.”
“Do you detect something wrong with the Toujours Pur curse?” Alarm was evident in her voice, she had seen Hermione conversing with Dumbledore and had assumed there was nothing urgent. She was committed to all her patients and wouldn’t forgive herself if her delay cost Hermione precious minutes.
“I do not believe that Mrs. Black is in any immediate danger however you are the Healer, I will let you be the judge.” Dumbledore gestured from Stromwell to Hermione.
“Come with me, Mrs. Black.” Healer Stromwell lead Hermione to an examination room. She spoke to her staff, asking them to summon Snape before following Hermione into the exam room and closing the door.
“So tell me, Hermione. How are the migraines and the seizures? They should almost be gone by now.” Healer Stromwell pulled a few implements out of drawers and cabinets and set them all on a side table.
“I haven’t had a migraine in over two weeks and its been a week and a half since my last seizure.” Hermione looked around the dingy little room and wrinkled her nose in distaste.
“That’s about what I expected. Now if you will sit on the end of the exam table we can begin.” The healer patted the end of the table.
Hermione sat on the end of the little exam table and waited patiently for Healer Stromwell to begin. Stromwell stuck the point of her wand in Hermione’s ear and took her temperature. She flicked her wand at a form, recording it. Stromwell put her arm in a funny little cuff with a gage attached. Hermione asked what it was for.
“Blood pressure.” The cuff took seconds to return an answer which was also recorded.
The exam proceeded as one magical medical artifact after another was used to get Hermione’s vital statistics. Her ears and nostrils were examined as was her mouth. Her heartbeat and breathing were monitored and then came the pelvic examination. Hermione always dreaded it when her mother took her to the gynecologist, she wondered if magic would make it less awkward.
Healer Stromwell asked Hermione to change into a gown and then left the room. She disrobed and put the gown on, now dreading that the exam wouldn’t be that much different. There was a brief knock on the door, the healer returned with a potion. She asked Hermione to lie back on the table and relax.
Healer Stromwell pushed the gown up and felt around Hermione’s abdomen. She shied away from the cold hands because they tickled her. Then the healer poured a small amount of thick liquid over the spot where her uterus would be. She watched the changing colors of the potion, her eyebrows went up in surprise.
“My, my…we did catch this early.” Healer Stromwell cleaned the potion off of Hermione’s abdomen.
“Caught what early?” Hermione held her breath.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o00
“Enough with the vague, Albus. What did you detect?” Sirius was feeling dangerous, he was in no mood for Dumbledore’s half answers.
“I believe the barriers that Severus erected in Hermione’s brain are becoming unstable.” Sirius thought Dumbledore didn’t look half as concerned as he ought to.
“And? What else? I know there’s more, there’s always more with you.” Sirius didn’t have the patience to mince his words.
“I believe that the barriers are unstable because they are no longer containing the curse.” Dumbledore’s explanation was delivered very calmly, as though he hadn’t just said that Hermione’s life was in danger.
“WHAT!” Sirius charged toward the exam room Hermione had entered. Dumbledore calmly followed with a little smile on his face.
Sirius unceremoniously threw the door open to rush to his wife’s side, the wife who had just returned to him. What he saw pulled him up short. Hermione was in a half sitting up, half laying down position on the exam table. She looked ecstatic, surprised and scared all at the same time. One hand covered her mouth, the other her stomach. She startled when Sirius entered the room. She looked at him cautiously, like she had something to say but wasn’t sure how it would be received. Healer Stromwell excused herself and closed the door quietly behind her. Hermione’s unsure mien gave Sirius pause, she didn’t have the look of looming tragedy, for which he was very grateful. He walked closer to her, trying to decipher her uncertainty.
“Sirius, I have something to tell you.” She gestured to a chair, indicating the he should sit down. He sat, preparing himself mentally for the worst. “I’m not sure how you’re going to feel about this, I don’t know if we ever talked about it.” Hermione hopped off the table and paced back and forth in front of him as she spoke.
“Talked about what, baby?” He really wished she would skip the preamble and just tell him what was wrong.
She sighed, preparing herself for a bad reaction. Hermione paused in her pacing to stand in front of him. “I’m pregnant.” She braced for him to receive the news poorly.
Sirius wasn’t sure if he had heard her right, she had spoken so quietly. He asked her to repeat herself.
“I’m pregnant, Sirius. We forgot all about birth control last night and this morning.”
Sirius’ face slackened into a look of innocent wonder, the way a very young boy might look at the tree full of presents on Christmas morning. His gaze slid from her eyes to her belly and then back up to her face. He slowly recovered, a huge smile breaking out across his face. He pulled her into his lap and circled his arms around her, hugging her close.
“Really?”
She leaned into his chest, resting her head there. “I wasn’t sure how you would take the news.”
Sirius had always wanted a family but the last few years of his life had him convinced it would never happen. He almost didn’t believe that it was true, that he would even be allowed. His heart nearly burst at the thought; sometime in the very near future he would be a father. He placed his hand over her belly, picturing her swelling with his child, their child. He buried his head in her hair and sighed.
“I’ve never been happier, Hermione. How far along are you?” He couldn’t wait to tell everyone, he wanted to share his happiness with the world.
“Healer Stromwell says it happened in the last few hours.” She thought of their love making that morning and blushed.
“This morning, then?” He noticed the blush and nuzzled her neck affectionately.
“We’re going to be parents, Sirius. Are we ready for this?” Hermione thought she would at least have her NEWTs out of the way, it was all happening a little fast for her.
“We did talk about this once. We looked forward to being parents.” Sirius kissed her temple and gave her a squeeze of reassurance. “I think it’s natural to be nervous.”
“I know it is. I’ve always wanted a family.” She paused thoughtfully and smiled at him. “I think you will be a wonderful father, I really do.” She raised her eyes to his.
“You’re going to be the best mum ever!” He said it with such joy and conviction that she had to laugh, his enthusiasm was infectious. She started to feel her doubt slide away. “Come on, then. Get dressed, we still have to figure out why the necklace is glowing.”
Hermione slid the gown over her head and shied out of reach of his hands. She quickly got dressed, suddenly worried that he might want to baptize the exam table. Hermione folded up the gown and lay it on the table and crawled back onto Sirius’ lap to wait for Healer Stromwell. There was a knock at the door, they chorused ‘come in.’ Snape glided through the door, his eyes falling on Hermione and Sirius. He was followed in by Healer Stromwell who closed the door behind her.
“Why is the barrier unstable?” Sirius took on an almost accusing tone.
“What?” Hermione was clearly alarmed. “Why didn’t you say something, Sirius?” He looked at her apologetically, he’d suddenly had other things on his mind.
“I won’t know that until I examine her, Black.” Snape’s lip curled in a sneer. He asked Hermione to return to the exam table. Healer Stromwell picked up the used gown to make room for her. Hermione climbed back onto the table and lay back. He performed a few movements of his wand around her head, muttering spells under his breath.
“Impossible!” Snape took a few steps back, a look of shock and disbelief on his face.
“What?” Hermione and Sirius spoke in unison.
There was a knock at the door. Healer Stromwell cracked the door to see who it was. Dumbledore was asking if he could come in. She turned to Hermione and Sirius, who were still reacting to Snape’s outburst, to get their permission. They were anxious for all the help they could get and agreed. Dumbledore walked in and smiled at Hermione and Sirius.
“Well?” Sirius snapped at Snape. “What’s impossible?”
Snape recovered from his shock and drew himself up. “I cannot explain how this happened but the Toujours Pur curse is no longer present in Hermione’s brain.”
A pleased look of surprise crossed both Sirius and Hermione’s faces.
“Severus, if I may?” Dumbledore politely asked for the floor, Snape nodded to him.
“I believe that there are congratulations in order, yes?” Dumbledore smiled warmly at Hermione who nodded. She wondered how he knew and then remembered that he had performed some sort of spell on her. “You see Severus, Hermione is expecting.” He got nothing but confused looks so he proceeded to explain. “That curse had but one goal, the prevention of mixed blood in the Black line. That ultimate goal has failed, thus breaking the curse’s power over her.”
“Then, why I am in danger?” Hermione still looked worried and confused.
“With nothing to contain, the barrier has become unstable.” Snape still looked a little shocked.
Healer Stromwell looked between Dumbledore and Snape. “Can you remove it?”
“Certainly.” Snape was beginning to look sour, he had rather enjoyed Sirius’ pain.
“Does that mean I will have my memory back?” Hermione’s voice was tentative but hopeful.
Sirius held his breath, hoping that this wasn’t just a dream.
“Yes. It also means no more migraines and seizures.” Healer Stromwell smiled at the couple, thrilled that their nightmare might soon be over.
“Well…what are you waiting for?” Sirius was anxious to have Hermione returned to him, whole and well once again.
Hermione trembled with excitement, this period of uncertainty and confusion was about to be over. Snape muttered his spell under his breath, moving his wand in complex patterns over head which now had a faint purple glow about it. Hermione slowly became aware of exactly where in her brain the barriers were erected, she could practically touch them with her mind. One by one she felt them dissolve as areas of her mind were freed once again. The largest of these barriers was still intact, Snape was working through the smaller ones first. He paused in his work to speak to her.
“Have you been aware of the barriers as I’ve removed them?” Snape walked around so that she could see his face.
“Yes.” It was comforting to know that it was normal to be so aware of them. She vaguely recollected knowing where they were when they were first put in. That was several weeks ago, it had been awhile since she felt them.
“It is likely you will feel a bit disoriented after I remove the last one. Your memory will return immediately which may come as a bit of a shock.” He returned to his position behind her.
Hermione kept her mind trained on the spot he was working on, she wanted to rush in and remember. She was tired of having to rebuild her life around this blank spot in her mind. Some extremely important things had taken place in those blank spaces and she wanted them back. She wanted to remember falling in love with Sirius and the last battle. Hearing about it or feeling an echo of it just wasn’t good enough for her. Even seeing it in a pensieve was a paltry excuse for the real thing.
Just as had happened before, the barrier became more and more palpable to her and then she was aware of it breaking down. She held her breath as the last of it melted away, she plowed forward. Her mind flooded with images once lost; Harry’s arrival at number twelve, Grimmauld Place, the awkward conversation with Sirius, her first night with him, the long weekend she spent at number twelve, Grimmauld Place, the attack in Hogsmeade, escaping with Sirius, Mexico, nearly dying at Bellatrix’ hand, getting caught in the hallway, the moment they knew would be parents together, Christmas Day, receiving the ring, Sirius at her bedside in the hospital and everything in between. She let her breath out.
Sirius watched with anticipation, trembling, she wasn’t saying anything. She seemed to be absorbed in thought, her brow knit in concentration. And then she breathed. She opened her eyes to look over at him, their eyes met and he knew.
She was back.
Hermione struggled to sit up, Sirius stepped forward and helped her. She had a bit of a headache and wanted to go home. She’d had her fill of hospitals for quite some time. She looked at Sirius, wanting to feel his arms around her. He immediately knew what she needed, he needed it too. Strong arms surrounded her and she sighed, all was right in her world.
“I want to go home.”
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Hermione and then Sirius stepped through the fireplace at number twenty four, Eternal Springs. Remus, Harry and Ron rushed over to greet them. Remus knew that he would find out everything in just a moment, he quietly waited, relieved that Hermione had returned with Sirius. Harry and Ron were less patient, they had a million questions and were asking them all, very hurriedly, all at once. Hermione raised her hand to rub her temples. She smiled weakly at the boys, appreciating their concern but wishing they would just shut up.
“Back off!” Sirius growled at the two teenagers giving them each a dark glare.
Harry and Ron were surprised and chastised by Sirius’ aggression. They smiled their apology to Hermione, both of them looking a bit sheepish.
Hermione patted him on the chest, quietly admonishing him for being so abrupt. They were just concerned for her even if they were a bit over enthusiastic about it. She smiled at all three of them and took a seat on one of her couches. They all took their cue from her and sat, waiting to hear if she was alright or not. She and Sirius exchanged a glance. The look they shared assured him that she was alright and that she would like him to share their news.
“We have great news!” His face broke out into a huge smile. He turned his head to look at Remus specifically. “We’re expecting!”
Remus swallowed a knot of emotion. Sirius had been through so much pain in his life, that things had turned around for him this much gave him great joy. The boyish excitement on Sirius’ face almost reminded him of the youth he knew so many years ago.
“That’s wonderful news, Pads! Congratulations, Hermione!” He tipped his head to her.
“You’re pregnant!” Ron spoke up first, he gave an almost accusatory look to Sirius. He wasn’t sure how he felt about his eighteen year old friend being knocked up. Sirius was too happy to notice Ron.
“That’s great, Hermione!” Harry read the situation correctly. They were happy about this and if they were happy, he was happy for them. “When are you due?”
Hermione smiled at Harry, pleased that he got it right. “Late September.”
“How could this have happened?” Ron’s feelings for Hermione had changed drastically in the last few months. He had gotten over her awhile back and was now dating Lavender Brown. What he felt for her now was more that of a brother to a sister. He was behaving much like he would if he found out Ginny was pregnant.
Hermione blushed brightly. How did he think it happened?
“The usual way.” Sirius was grinning like a loon.
Remus chuckled quietly at Sirius. He gave Ron a puzzled look, not sure what to make of his behavior.
“What’s your problem, Ron?” Harry faced his friend, perplexed as to why Ron couldn’t see this was a good thing. “They’re happy about this.”
Ron looked at Hermione for confirmation, she nodded, smiling, hoping he would catch on.
“Oh. Well, good then.” He still wasn’t sure if he liked it or not. In his mind Hermione should be in school, not making babies.
“We’ve got more news than just that though.” Hermione smiled at Sirius, encouraging him to continue with their story.
“Well, as it turns out, getting Hermione knocked up…” She interrupted him.
“Sirius!”
“Sorry, sweetheart. Maybe you better explain it.”
Hermione sat up a little straighter in her seat. “Well, the way that Professor Dumbledore explained it…”
“Dumbledore? What was he doing there? Is he well?” Remus gave her an apologetic look for interrupting her.
“He’s fine. Finish your story, baby.” Sirius was impatient for them to know that she had her memory back.
“He was just there for a follow up visit, to see how he was doing.” She gave Sirius an exasperated look. “So, he explained that the curse was meant to prevent the mixing of blood, to keep the Black line pure. Since I’m pregnant with Sirius’ child the curse failed in its objective. Getting pregnant broke the curse.”
“That’s…wow, that’s wonderful!” Remus couldn’t believe that the news just kept getting better and better.
“So, you’re not cursed anymore?” Ron could scarcely believe his ears, this was the best news ever. Hermione shook her head in answer to his question.
Harry reached over and squeezed her hand and smiled at her. He knew what it was like to live with the after affects of a curse.
“And now for the best part.” Sirius had their attention. “Because the curse couldn’t hurt her anymore Snape removed the barrier in her brain!” They had forgotten that it was the barrier that caused her memory loss. They gave him puzzled looks, not exactly sure why that was the best part.
“The barrier is what was causing the necklace to glow, without the curse to contain it became unstable. The necklace kept it from hurting me.” Recognition passed over Remus’ face at her words but the boys didn’t know what was special about the necklace. Remus however had been with Sirius the day he bought it.
“The necklace was a protection charm?” Ron looked between Hermione and Sirius, both of them nodded. A look passed over Harry’s face that indicated he understood as well.
“Well, without the barrier…I got my memory back. There will be no more migraines or seizures…” The reality that she was completely whole suddenly overwhelmed Hermione. It was over, it was really over, she had her life back. She started to cry, not even sure why she was crying, she was just so overcome with the enormity of it all.
Their guests were at a loss for what to do. Hermione had just told them the best possible news and broke down into tears. They didn’t even have a chance to congratulate her. Sirius seemed to understand, he put his arm around her and pulled her head to his chest. The boys looked like they might say something however a dark look from Sirius had them keeping their peace. He spoke softly to her as she cried, telling her how happy he was to have her back and how much he loved her. Remus and the boys felt a bit awkward, like they were witnessing something that should have been private. After a few minutes Hermione raised her head and sniffed, she looked over at her company and smiled.
“We need to go see my parents, Sirius.” He nodded, she was right. They had to let them know about all of the good news.
“I’m sorry, Harry, Ron…Sirius and I have to go visit my parents right away. We’ll be back in a little while though if you just want to relax, make yourself at home.” She felt bad that she had gotten almost no time to visit with them.
They assured her that they understood. They were happy to wait until she returned.
“I can’t stay.” Remus gave her a hug. “You see, I have a rather important date with Dora tonight.” He and Sirius exchanged a significant look. Hermione grinned madly at him.
“Good luck, mate.” Sirius winked at his childhood friend. Remus returned a nervous smile and left by floo.
Hermione and Sirius walked out to the backyard and disappeared with a soft ‘pop.’
Tags: